by Leslie Layton
A majority on the Butte County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to draft an ordinance that would ban fracking, a step that could place this county at the vanguard of a grass-roots movement to halt the practice.
In a surprisingly unscripted move, the supervisors voted 4-1 to consider a comprehensive fracking ban after county staffers research how best this can be done. The vote was applauded by dozens of anti-fracking activists, many of whom had spoken in favor of the more moderate measure that was on the agenda — a recommendation the county amend its zoning code to ensure local oversight of fracking projects.
But after an hour of testimony from audience members, District 4 Supervisor Steve Lambert ended up introducing the motion to ban the practice entirely. “My concern is we’re moving a lot of stuff underneath us [in fracking] that’s holding us up,” Lambert said. “By taking the foundation away, we’ll crumble. In all honesty, I’d favor a ban.”