France Becomes First Nation To Ban Fracking

France became the first nation to ban the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking in drilling for natural gas and oil on June 30 when French senators voted to ban the practice. Oil and gas companies operating in France with fracking permits will have them revoked according to the legislation passed by a 176 to 151 vote. The bill passed the National Assembly on June 21.

“We are at the end of a legislative marathon that stirred emotion from lawmakers and the public,” French Environment Minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet said late yesterday before the vote. Hydraulic fracturing will be illegal and parliament would have to vote for a new law to allow research using the technique, she said.

France’s fracking ban comes at the same time that the New Jersey State Senate voted to ban the practice, which contaminates drinking water. For a bit of more good news, North Carolina’s Governor Bev Perdue vetoed a state senate bill that would have allowed fracking in the state.

Jane Preyer, North Carolina’s director of the Environmental Defense Fund praised the veto in North Carolina. “The veto sends a clear signal to legislators that rolling back regulations that protect the state’s environment is not a viable business plan for economic recovery or the well being of North Carolina’s families,” she said. “The veto sends the strong message that North Carolina puts out the welcome map to industries that both create good jobs and respect our natural resources. Hats off to Governor Perdue for the veto.”

Unfortunately, it looks like New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo is poised to lift the ban on fracking, the International Business Times (IBT) reports. The state issued new guidelines for fracking that will prohibit fracking in state parks and in the New York City and Syracuse watersheds.

New York State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton, an opponent of fracking, said, “If hydrofracking is not safe in the New York City watershed it’s not safe in any watershed,” Lifton said. “There’s a tacit admission on the part of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) that it is not safe and yet it is being allowed.”

Read more: ban, fracking, france

Photo from Progress Ohio via flickr

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Beverly G.

6:43PM PDT on Aug 14, 2011

guddo yippe.

send a green star

Eternal G.

6:52PM PDT on Aug 10, 2011

I find that very hard to believe.

KrassiAWAY B.

11:57AM PDT on Jul 29, 2011

Thank you France!

Sheri P.

3:13PM PDT on Jul 26, 2011

Way to go France!

Berny P.

6:16AM PDT on Jul 19, 2011

Great job to yet another European country!!!!

Lets hope they will keep their president so that he can carry on the good work!!!

Lisa B.

11:52AM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

Now only the rest of the world would follow suit.

bike m.

3:34AM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

Sheesh, with a list of side-effects like that it might as well be a pink sweetener! Or maybe an enhancer of flavors!!!

Judy B.

7:43PM PDT on Jul 11, 2011

Viva la France!

Renee S.

6:02PM PDT on Jul 11, 2011

Today the residents in Nebraska are convinced that fracking around their homes has caused earthquakes. We need to grow a brain and get control of Congress and Corporations that will surely ruin what is left of our country if allowed to continue at the rate they are with NO environmental safeguards.

Meg G.

2:00PM PDT on Jul 11, 2011

Thank You! Now we need to keep the pressure on our Representatives and the Oil & Gas Industries, as well as the Nuclear Industry. We can do it! Clean Air, Food and Water, is not too much to ask for.