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North Texas City That Banned Fracking Pushes Back In Court

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DENTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP)The city of Denton has pushed back against lawsuits filed by oil interests and the Texas General Land Office against the fracking ban its voters approved last month.

Lawyers for the North Texas city filed a motion Monday to move the Land Office's lawsuit from Austin district court to Denton. The Land Office has alleged the ban violates its rights as the statewide manager of mineral interests.

Denton also argued against a separate lawsuit filed by the Texas Oil and Gas Association, saying the group has not made clear its arguments that existing state authorities pre-empt any local attempts to regulate oil production.

The city says it will argue fracking has caused "heavy truck traffic, liquid spills, vibrations and other offensive results."

Opponents of the fracking ban say the move will hurt the economy. But many people who live near fracking wells have expressed concern about chemicals emitted by the controversial practice.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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