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Fracking Ban Legislation Defeated in Senate

March 10th, 2014 by WCBC Radio

A bill to ban fracking, the controversial method of extracting natural gas from deep layers of shale rock, was defeated in the Maryland Senate last month- but efforts to delay or possibly ban the process in the state continue. SB 360 was designed to prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracturing, perhaps preempting a state commission that has been weighing the issue since 2011 and is due to conclude its work this summer. While fracking appears stagnant in Maryland, neighboring states are continuing to issue permits and are seeing millions of dollars in revenue result. State Senator George Edwards of Garrett County says he doesn’t think the delays will totally eliminate Maryland as an attractive site for companies looking into hydraulic fracturing, its definitely having a negative impact. He notes that there are other examples where Maryland has worked toward strict regulations that have still ended up paying off.





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