The ruling handed down by New York’s highest court last month which ruled that towns have the authority to ban hydraulic fracturing has sparked a number of Vestal residents pushing for a moratorium of their own. At the latest board meeting, many residents expressed their desire for Vestal to ban fracking within its borders. Vestal officials have maintained that there is no need for a moratorium specific to Vestal since a statewide ban has remained in effect since 2008. Over 170 communities across New York have enacted either temporary or permanent bans on fracking.
