Illinois' environmental community is split on its support for proposed legislation that would regulate high-volume oil and gas drilling.
Some environmental groups joined with industry to help draft a bill that would control hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking." But others say they'll push lawmakers for a two-year moratorium instead.
About a dozen environmental and citizens groups plan to be in Springfield on Tuesday to lobby for the moratorium.
They want a task force to research health and environmental effects of fracking, hold public hearings and make recommendations to the General Assembly.
Fracking uses high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals to crack rock formations to release oil and natural gas.
Environmentalists who helped write the regulations say they would be the nation's toughest.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
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