The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has given approval to Chaparral Energy to begin fracking of a well drilled near a Banner community well in Canadian County.
News 9 TV reported the approval came even though parents of school children opposed the well.
Parents trying to keep a fracking operation away from their children’s school took their case to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission Wednesday.
Parents have argued that the potential well is just feet from the playground at Banner school. They’re worried about the noise, traffic, air quality and overall safety for their children.
In Wednesday’s hearing a Chaparral engineer said it could have possibly cost time and money if the site was at a different location. The environmental manager testified the company has air quality monitoring on site and told the judge no one will be negatively affected by the drilling.
Wednesday afternoon a Corporation Commission judge ruled in favor of Chaparral Energy saying the proposed well complied with the commission’s health and safety regulations within its jurisdiction.
Chaparral said plans to start fracking on Saturday because the children at the school will be on Thanksgiving break all week and the operation should be completed before students return to class.