Christie vetoes bill that would ban fracking waste in NJ

HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie has once again vetoed legislation that would have banned the state from treating or storing waste products from natural gas drilling.

Christie on Friday said the proposed ban on treating, disposing or storing wastewater and other byproducts from hydraulic fracturing appeared to violate the interstate commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution.

He vetoed a similar measure in 2012 and says nothing has changed since then.

Environmental activists pushed for the ban on treating and storing liquid from the drilling process known as fracking. They say it would protect waterways and drinking water from harmful chemicals.

There are currently no fracking operations in New Jersey, but it is a big industry in neighboring Pennsylvania and some New Jersey facilities have handled the wastewater.

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