Maryland governor signs fracking ban into law [View all]
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 isnt 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 Vermonts legislature has passed a ban in a symbolic gesture, because the state doesnt have any oil or natural gas reserves to drill for.
More: http://wtop.com/maryland/2017/04/maryland-governor-signs-fracking-ban-into-law/