Maryland Fracking Ban Passes Assembly; Awaits Governor's Signature

摘要

A ban on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas production in Maryland became a near-certainty March 27 as the General Assembly passed legislation (H.B. 1325) that Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said he would sign. Maryland's fracking ban would be the third statewide ban in the U.S., following Vermont in 2012 and New York in 2015. Hogan recently announced his support for it, saying the "possible environmental risks of fracking simply outweigh any potential benefits" and urging lawmakers to "finally put this issue to rest once and for all."