CUMBERLAND — The new administration of incoming Gov. Larry Hogan could revive the chances for drilling for natural gas in Western Maryland. That drilling should take advantage of technology developed by Alliant Techsystems Inc., said Allegany County Commissioner Bill Valentine. Valentine would like the first test well in Allegany County to use that technology, he said.
That’s at the same time that Gov. Martin O’Malley is being ripped by environmentalists for promulgating rules for hydraulic fracturing, which, when in place, could allow drilling to begin. O’Malley will leave office in mid-January. This week, Hogan said he didn’t like O’Malley issuing major regulations on gas drilling and other issues in the last few weeks of his administration.
