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Gardner Challenges Udall On Fracking

DENVER (AP) - Republican Rep. Cory Gardner is challenging Democratic Sen. Mark Udall to disavow efforts to rein in the controversial procedure known as "fracking."

Gardner is running against Udall. The congressman's campaign demanded Tuesday that Udall oppose efforts to ban fracking in Colorado.

Mark Udall
Sen. Mark Udall (credit: CBS)

There are no proposed statewide bans on fracking. But multiple ballot measures to limit the practice are under consideration. Udall has not taken a stance on any of them. His campaign called Gardner's challenge a ploy to deceive voters.

Gardner and energy groups argue that fracking is safe and has helped Colorado's economy.

Environmentalists argue it is dangerous and contaminates ground water.

Fracking is the term for injecting a chemical cocktail into subterranean deposits of natural gas to bring them to the surface.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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