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Apr. 14, 2011
by Kerry Davis
Capital News Service
ANNAPOLIS – A bill that would have imposed a two-year moratorium on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale formation while an environmental impact study was completed stalled in the Senate this legislative session after easily passing the House.
It is unclear how heavily the bill’s failure will actually affect drilling into the Marcellus shale formation via hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” since a hold has already been unofficially placed on drilling there.
The Maryland Department of the Environment has been holding permit applications for drilling since October 2009, citing potential environmental effects. Those applications for fracking were the first ever filed in the state.
The Department of the Environment is not expected to approve the applications without Gov. Martin O’Malley’s approval. O’Malley has said he wants a thorough study done before fracking begins.
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