At a November 6 event, Texas Railroad Commission Chairwoman Christi Craddick unequivocally stated that the Commission would continue to issue drilling permits to operators in Denton, despite the November 4 vote making it the first city in Texas to ban hydraulic fracturing. “It’s my job to give permits, not Denton’s. We’re going to continue permitting up there because that’s my job,” said Craddick at an event sponsored by the Texas Tribune.

Chairwoman Craddick’s comments are similar to the arguments raised in the lawsuits filed last week by the Texas General Land Office and the Texas Oil and Gas Association, which assert that Denton’s municipal fracking ban is preempted by the Texas constitution and statewide laws governing the development of oil and gas.

The North America Shale Blog will continue to monitor developments in the litigation related to the Denton fracking ban.