The Carson City Council declined to extend a fracking-inspired moratorium on all oil and gas drilling in a vote taken in the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 30th.

The council enacted a 45-day ban on drilling on March 19th, to give the city time to review the alleged safety risks of oil and gas operations, including hydraulic fracturing. The only planned drilling in the city was a proposal by Occidental Petroleum to drill more than 200 wells, none of which would involve fracking.

Continuation of the moratorium would have required a four-fifths supermajority vote by the city council. Only two council members voted to extend the ban. Two others opposed, and one member abstained.

Also discussed at the meeting was the pending lawsuit filed by some Carson residents related to homes built over abandoned oil operations that have been affected by contamination in the soil.

Supporters and opponents of drilling activity turned out in force for the council meeting.

“We want Carson to be safe,” Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO told The Los Angeles Times, “but let’s not pass a law that’s going to cut off this city from its economy. Together, we will fight to make Carson safe and prosperous for all residents.”

William McFarland, Human Resources Manager for Occidental Petroleum, told the Times that the council’s vote showed “that the city continues to recognize the value of an industry that brings safe projects and good jobs to the community.”