Bonita Springs fracking ban clears hurdle

The proposed ban of a controversial oil drilling method initially endorsed by the Bonita Springs City Council is being hailed by environmentalists and condemned by large land owners holding oil and mineral rights who are threatening lawsuits.

The ban, approved at a first reading at Wednesday night's meeting in a 6-0 vote, with a second and final hearing scheduled for July 15, is targeted to prevent fracking.

Fracking is a shortened term for hydraulic fracturing, a method of oil extraction that injects a combination of water, sand and chemicals into deep wells to release oil and natural gas.

The ban is designed to ease the minds of residents that this method of drilling could not take place in Bonita Springs, Mayor Ben Nelson said.

He said residents don't want to take a chance that their water resources might become polluted.