The city of Denton, Texas sits on top of the Barnett Shale, where the oil and gas drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing (or "fracking") was honed to resource-releasing, industry-enriching perfection. On Tuesday, Denton's citizens voted to ban fracking within city limits.
The fracking ban passed by a wide margin, 59 percent to 41 percent. Supporters of the moratorium were frustrated by Denton officials' inability to stop fracking wells being drilled near residential areas, schools and hospitals; there are some 270 wells in Denton proper.
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