Village of Oxford tables gas drilling moratorium

12/11/2012 (Updated 11:15:25 PM)

OXFORD -- No moratorium on hydro-fracking in Oxford, at least for now.  That was the decision reached by the Village Board during a special session tonight, in light of legal action threatened against the village by a pro-fracking group, if the moratorium passed.

The board listened to a speaker from both sides before heading into executive session for about half an hour.  During that time residents had a discussion about fracking that got heated at times.  The decision to table a moratorium for a later date was acceptable to both sides.

"The board has made a good decision," said Bryant Latourette of Oxford who spoke in favor of hydro-fracking.  "It has to take a look at what's been presented to it.  It needs to take a closer look at what they're doing."

"I approve of what they're doing because they were faced with the possibility of a lawsuit by well heeled gas companies," said Irving Wesleyhall of Oxford who spoke in opposition of hydro-fracking.  "It's a small village and they want to make sure they were covered legally."

The lawsuit against the village was being prepared by the Central New York Landowner's Coalition, which supports fracking activity, saying that studies have shown that such drilling will not adversely affect public health or the environment.

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