CHICAGO – Opponents of high-volume gas and oil drilling are welcoming news that powerful Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan supports a temporary ban on the practice.

The Chicago Democrat said Wednesday that he supports a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, called “fracking,” over legislation that would regulate the practice.

Fracking uses high-pressure mixtures of water, sand and chemicals to break rock formations to release oil and natural gas. Opponents say it causes air and water pollution; industry says it’s safe.