February 3rd, 2017 by WCBC Radio
With the clock winding down on Maryland’s two-year moratorium on fracking, a statewide poll of Maryland voters released recently shows broad public support for permanently banning what some maintain is a “risky” drilling practice. In Garrett County, a prime target area for the oil and gas industry, voters oppose fracking by an even stronger margin. The poll, conducted by the nonpartisan firm OpinionWorks, found that Maryland voters support a ban on fracking by a 2-to-1 margin, with a 56% majority supporting the ban and only 28% opposed. It’s expected that some lawmakers will push for a permanent statewide ban on fracking during the current session of the General Assembly, but most believe an extension of the current moratorium is more likely. State Senator George Edwards, a Garrett County republican, tells WCBC News he would support extending the moratorium- with the final decision made by Marylander’s with the question put to a referendum vote in 2020…