Fort Collins' and Loveland's decisions to pass drilling moratoriums drew criticism Wednesday from the Colorado Oil & Gas Association. 

"We are disappointed that the councils are moving quickly without all the relevant information," association President Tisha Conoly Schuller wrote in an email.
"We look forward to engaging with them to talk about Colorado's comprehensive oil and gas rules and our industry's commitment to responsible local energy development," she said.

Loveland city councilors passed a nine-month moratorium on oil and natural-gas development Tuesday evening, while the Fort Collins City Council gave preliminary approval to its own temporary drilling ban.

Loveland's moratorium, passed as an emergency ordinance, takes effect immediately and lasts until Feb. 16. The drilling ban means the city will not accept any applications for oil and gas development.

Cities throughout the Front Range, including Erie, Longmont and Boulder, have passed similar moratoriums.

Loveland's ban follows requests by Centerra residents that the city enact a ban to prevent drilling in the area by Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

Mayor Cecil Gutierrez