Activists sue COGA, Gov. Hickenlooper

LAFAYETTE – Activists who oppose hydraulic fracturing said Tuesday they are suing the Colorado Oil & Gas Association and Gov. John Hickenlooper, contending that a lawsuit by the oil and gas association violates Lafayette’s “right to self-governance.”

In November, Lafayette voters passed a law banning hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The oil and gas association followed up in December with a lawsuit against the city of Lafayette, arguing that the city illegally banned fracking. The oil and natural-gas drilling technique involves pumping millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals into dense shale formations to retrieve oil and gas.

The class-action lawsuit filed…