News & Notes: Town council votes to ban fracking

The Princeton town council passed an ordinance banning fracking throughout the town at a council meeting on Monday.

The ordinance, which was passed by a vote of 5-1, makes Princeton the first town in Mercer County and the second town in New Jersey to ban fracking, which critics say causes significant damage to the environment. Councilman Patrick Simon cast the sole vote against the ordinance, saying that it gives the impression that the town's current laws regarding fracking are not strong enough. According to Princeton's current laws, it is illegal to manufacture and drill for oil and gas within the town, but companies could apply for an exception to conduct fracking operations.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, makes use of water and chemicals being pumped into underground shale formations. The pumping fractures the rock and releases natural gas.

A June 2012 U.S. Geological Survey identified up to 1.6 trillion cubic feet of gas in the South Newark basin. While fracking is not currently practiced in New Jersey, it is practiced in Pennsylvania.

Mayor Liz Lempert said in July that allowing fracking could make the town vulnerable to drilling companies coming in and trying to access the available natural gas.