In this Dec. 5, 2012 photo, the sun sets behind an oil pump jack and the Rocky Mountains near Fredrick, Colo. Citizen fears about hydraulic fracturing, a drilling procedure used to pry oil and gas from rock deep underground, have made "fracking" the hottest political question in Colorado. In November, citizens in the Denver suburb of Longmont voted overwhelmingly to ban fracking despite heavy opposition from the oil and gas industry and warnings of lawsuits. Now the fracking debate is rocking small local governments _ and leaving the industry wondering how to proceed in a state that has long embraced the oil and gas industry. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

LONGMONT | Longmont officials say they have a reached an agreement with two oil and gas companies to end the possibility of surface drilling within city limits.

The Daily Times-Call reports the city announced the proposed agreement Thursday with TOP Operating Co. and Cub Creek Energy LLC.

Under the agreement, TOP would plug and abandon eight active wells, relinquish 11 future drilling sites and abandon 80 potential well permits. In return, the city would pay $3 million to the company.

Cub Creek has agreed to relinquish any right to drill inside the city if the state approves the company’s proposed well location northeast of Union Reservoir.

The city council will consider preliminary approval of the deal next week and final approval would follow in late May.

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