Cooperation seen with Illinois' fracking proposal

Fracking uses a high-pressure mixture of water, sand or gravel and chemicals to crack and hold open thick rock formations, releasing trapped oil and gas.

Combined with horizontal drilling, it allows access to formerly out-of-reach deposits.

The industry insists the method is safe and could create thousands of jobs.

Critics are urging lawmakers instead to support a 2-year moratorium on the practice to study scientific evidence surrounding contamination and potential health effects, as well as the impact on water supplies.