France's lower house of parliament has taken a first legislative step toward banning a controversial gas and oil drilling technique that critics fear could contaminate ground water.

The conservative-controlled National Assembly has voted 287-186 to forbid hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for the exploration and production of shale gas and oil.

Left-leaning opponents said the bill doesn't go far enough because it did not revoke researching licenses that the French government has already granted.

The process involves injecting water, sand and chemicals underground to crack the shale rock and get natural gas to flow into a well. Critics insist the technique uses too much water and could involve toxic chemicals. The Senate takes up the issue June 1.