While critics of a proposed hydraulic fracturing project in Mandeville appeared at a state hearing in Baton Rouge, a lawsuit was filed in a nearby courtroom to stop the plan.
The New Orleans Advocate is reporting that the state Department of Natural Resources is considering a permit requested by Helis Oil and Gas. The hearing focused on whether the 960-acre parcel north of Interstate 12 is large enough to handle the process known as fracking.
The St. Tammany Parish Council is filing a lawsuit claiming the project can’t be done on land zoned for residential use.
No decision was announced at the end of the hearing. The public can submit comments through June 24.
