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Western Maryland Could See Next Fracking Boom

Jay’s note: This is one of the scariest things on the horizon – get involved & let your voice be heard.

Date Published: Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, may be coming to Maryland’s Garrett and Allegany counties. The two counties, located in the mountainous western region of the state, set atop the gas-rich Marcellus shale.

Drilling in Marcellus shale is done via a process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Fracking, which is now used in about 90 percent of US gas and oil wells, involves injecting water, sand, and a cocktail of chemicals at high pressure into rock formations thousands of feet below the surface. Because the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 exempted hydraulic fracturing from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act, shale gas drillers don’t have to disclose what chemicals they use. However, it is known that fracking fluids contain toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene. As we’ve reported extensively, fracking has caused serious water contamination problems in several states.

According to the Maryland Geological Survey, in the past couple of years, Garrett and Allegany counties have seen the arrival of “land men,” an industry term for those who come to an area in advance of the actual drilling of test wells for natural gas. These land men typically contact land owners (and mineral rights owners) to arrange to lease the land on which to drill.

In both Garrett and Allegany, some resident have signed drilling leases, and in December 2009, Samson Resources, a privately owned oil and gas company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma applied for four drilling permits. The firm is seeking to drill three wells in Garrett County and a fourth well in Allegany County. If those wells are successful, Samson Resources will drill several hundred wells on 70,000 acres in the area over the next ten years.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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Marcellus Shale Documentary on HBO tonight

A new documentary on US natural gas companies leasing land to drill for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale area. Good information on drilling pro & con.

HBO Monday 6/21 9:00 pm

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on www.DeepCreekAlive.com!

Dormant Mineral Act Passes House, Senate Chambers

Dormant Mineral Act Passes House, Senate Chambers

Apr. 1, 2010

The Maryland Dormant Mineral Interests Act, introduced by Del. Wendell Beitzel and Sen. George Edwards, has cleared a key procedural hurdle this week that had prevented the bill’s passage in previous sessions.
The act, which adds Maryland to the list of states that have passed the Uniform Dormant Mineral Act, has unanimously passed both chambers.

The House measure was unanimously supported in 2009, but failed to even receive a hearing in the Senate.

“This is critically important legislation that must move forward for landowners in Garrett and Allegany counties,” Beitzel said.

Though it is a statewide bill, this legislation is important to both Garrett and Allegany counties, where there is evidence that a large amount of natural gas is located in the Marcellus shale, the delegate noted.

This year’s measure has even garnered the support of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, he added.

Read the rest of the article here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

GC Chamber To Host Sessions On Marcellus Shale

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GC Chamber To Host Sessions On Marcellus Shale

Jan. 21, 2010

An educational program titled “Your Business & Marcellus Shale: Voices of Experience” will be held on Wednesdays – Jan. 27, Feb. 3, Feb. 10, and Feb. 17 –beginning at 8 a.m. in Garrett College’s Continuing Education building, Room 224.
Hosted by the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, the 90-minute sessions are being offered to help entrepreneurs and established small- and medium-sized businesses understand and respond to Marcellus shale-related business opportunities.
(more from Republican article)

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350