As the debate over whether to drill for natural gas in New York gets more and more heated, some local communities are taking matters into their own hands as the state tries to figure out if and when it will start issuing drililng permits.

Many municipalities including some major cities like Buffalo, Albany and now Syracuse have proposed local bans on fracking. Opponents laud the legislation, but many in the gas drilling industry are criticicing the move– saying it’s illegal because drilling can only be regulated at the state level.

Helen Slottje, a lawyer who has been instructing local municipalities on writing land use ordinances banning the practice, joined Liz from Ithaca Monday to talk more about this.

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