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Voters In 2 California Coastal Counties Approve Fracking Ban; 1 Other County Handily Rejects Ban

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Voters in two California coastal counties approved a ban on fracking and other intensive oil production on Tuesday, while a third coastal county rejected such a ban.

Measure S in Mendocino County was approved by more than two-thirds of voters. The initiative bans fracking and all related activity imposing harsh criminal penalties for any violations.

A similar measure was passed handily in San Benito County garnering more than 57 percent of the vote.

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In Santa Barbara County, however, a measure to ban the practice of fracking was handily defeated by a 63-to-37 percent margin.

Fracking is short for hydraulic fracturing, and involves forcing liquids and chemicals into underground formations at high pressure to extract oil and gas. California is the country's third-largest oil producer. Other places in the state and country have also enacted fracking bans.

More Election Links:
View Results From Bay Area, Statewide.
National Election Results From CBS News
Video: KPIX 5 Election Coverage
County-By-County Election Results
CBS SF Politics Section

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