On March 6, the Maryland Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs committee gave an unfavorable report on the Maryland Hydraulic Fracturing Moratorium and Right to Know Act of 2013 (SB601/HB12274) in a vote of 6-5. The bill’s lead sponsor Delegate Heather R. Mizeur issued the following press statement:
“The Senate committee vote is a disappointment, because it is not an accurate reflection of how Marylanders feel about fracking. Seventy-six percent of western Marylanders, fifty percent of Republicans, and ninety-five percent of Maryland’s African-American community want strict safety studies before fracking. Only our moratorium approach can guarantee that outcome.
Ironically, yesterday’s vote came in the same week that Governor Cuomo and the New York General Assembly moved one step closer to a two-year moratorium on fracking until studies are complete.
I remain hopeful that Maryland will adopt the same approach, because western Maryland should not have to accept toxic spills, polluted drinking water, and lost tourism jobs as the cost of doing business in Maryland.”
(For more about the vote read here.)
Fletcher R. Hall says
The negative vote, at this point, was reasonable and responsible.
Let’s know more on issues of the economy and the science before slamming to dor to a possiblw lucrative industry that could benefit the Sate and its future.
Fletcher R. Hall
Chestertown
mary Wood says
Those so impatiently in favor of fracking should consider the well being of our underground waters,before proceeding further.
Fletcher R. Hall says
While not “impatiently” in favor of development of natural gas deposits in Maryland, I do think as economically important to the future as this industry may be will not get a reasonsable hearing nor vote in a state dominated by one party with a distinct liberal and urban majority.
Closing the door before the barn is constructed is not good policy.
Frank Gerber says
Better to close the barn door before the horses escape than after.
joe diamond says
Well, I’m not an engineer but I have read several articles from a major mine school and the manufacturers of the equipment say there is not now nor has there ever been a problem with ground water…………you would expect a geology report and some engineers testifying about locations where the process will be safe and productive. They go down about two miles and then bore horizontally through structures containing gas. Part of the rap is that there is no need to operate near ground water. They already have plenty of gas zones elsewhere…not in MD. This is not something that is subject to political pressure.
Could we get some quotes or the debate within a geology report?
Joe