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Richmond Councilman Parker C. Agelasto isn’t aware of anyone currently mining natural gas from oil shale within the city limits. But he said he wants to keep it that way.

Agelasto introduced legislation this week that would ban hydraulic fracturing — a controversial process through which pressurized liquid is pushed into wells to free natural gas — in Richmond.

He said he introduced the legislation after learning that fracking is allowed by right in certain industrial districts. The city’s zoning director was not available for comment Tuesday.

“While most of us think it’s unlikely to happen in the city of Richmond, it’s a permitted land use and it could occur without the requirement of going before the council or even notifying neighbors,” Agelasto said.

“The problem that I have learned in four years on council is that if you don’t say no then it’s automatically permitted and you can’t stop it from happening.”