The town of Marcellus, N.Y., has banned the exploration and production of natural gas and petroleum, The Syracuse Post-Standard reported.
The town board voted unanimously on Monday to amend zoning codes to prevent all natural gas and petroleum exploration and production within the town limits.
Town Supervisor Daniel J. Ross commented on the 5-0 vote, "There was a clear intent to reaffirm Marcellus as a bedroom community."
Ross cited unanswered environmental questions about hydraulic fracturing, as well as concerns about fracking’s effect on public and private water supplies, as reasons for the ban.
