Maryland Senate to Rule on Fracking Ban

Swamp Stomp

Volume 17, Issue 17

A bill that is currently working its way through Maryland’s legislative system cleared a major hurdle Wednesday, March 22, 2017.  The bill would ban hydraulic fracturing in Maryland.  This victory for those who support the bill comes days after Gov. Larry Hogan (R) surprised supporters by endorsing the ban.

In a vote of 8-3, the state Senate’s environmental committee voted in favor of the House bill.  One of the panel’s four Republicans voted in favor of the bill as well as all seven Democrats. The next step for the bill, which has 23 sponsors, is advancement to the full Senate, where it would need at least 24 votes to pass.

If Maryland bans fracking, it would not be the first to do so as New York and Vermont have already banned the practice.

Supports of the bill where able to keep an amendment off the bill that would have required a statewide referendum in 2018 to determine how voters feel about the ban on fracking, a natural-gas extraction method formally known as hydraulic fracturing.

Those against the referendums argued that the extra time taken would provide an opportunity for the oil-and-gas industry to run ads against the ban and drum up support for repealing it.

Among those who agree with the outcome of the committee’s vote are environmental and anti-fracking groups.

“Mountain Maryland residents and citizens across our state have for years raised alarm over fracking’s potential to contaminate water and air, to cause earthquakes, and to harm public health and safety,” Citizen Shale said in a statement. “With this vote, we can breathe a little easier.”

Do you think the fracking ban bill will pass?  Do you agree or disagree with Maryland for attempting to ban fracking?  Why?

Source: Hicks, Josh. “Fracking Ban Advances to Maryland Senate Floor.” The Washington Post. WP Company, 22 Mar. 2017. Web. 24 Mar. 2017.

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