Maryland governor signs fracking ban into law

[Rhiannon12866]

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan signed a bill Tuesday to ban the hydraulic fracturing drilling process known as fracking in Maryland, the first state where a legislature has voted to bar the practice that actually has natural gas reserves.

The Republican governor signed the measure into law about a week after the bill was passed by the Democrat-controlled legislature. Fracking for oil and gas isn’t being conducted in Maryland now, but a moratorium was set to end in October, which is when the ban technically takes effect.

Supporters of the ban said it was the first in the nation approved by a legislature in a state that has natural gas underground. Neighboring West Virginia and Pennsylvania allow fracking.

New York has banned fracking by executive order, and Vermont’s legislature has passed a ban in a symbolic gesture, because the state doesn’t have any oil or natural gas reserves to drill for.


More: http://wtop.com/maryland/2017/04/maryland-governor-signs-fracking-ban-into-law/

[Jim Lane]

1. This is good news and surprising news, coming from a GOP governor

When Hogan was elected, many environmentalists were concerned that he would press for fracking. I don't know whether he signed this bill out of genuine conviction or because he feared a devastating popular backlash from a veto, but either way, it's a hopeful sign for the opposition to fracking.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Great news! I wish we had an anti-fracking governor...