Van Buren officials have approved a road preservation law in an effort to protect town roads that cannot support excessive weight of industrial transportation.

The issue was brought about as a result of the hydrofracking process used by gas companies, which is currently being reviewed by New York state. The process includes the transportation of water to and from hydrofracking sites, a weight that town roads are not built to support.

“I’ve personally seen the damage to roads in Pennsylvania,” said Supervisor Claude Sykes referring to town roads damaged by such transportation. “We don’t need gas companies coming here and leaving taxpayers stuck with the bill to repair roads.”

Sykes noted that the legislation isn’t directed at gas companies alone, but will also provide protection from other industries that could potentially come to the town including logging and mining.