The Tale of Two Fracking Bills

Date: April 15, 2015

HB 449Two-and-a-half year ban on Fracking Passed the
General Assembly

A two-year facking ban passed the General Assembly on April 10, 2015. The legislation forbids drilling any wells until October 2017, and also requires the state to enact regulations next year to monitor the practice. The bill will now head to Governor Larry Hogan’s desk. The Governor has said that he support fracking and the economic benefit it will have on Western Maryland. Please contact Governor Hogan’s office an encourage him to veto this bill by CLICKING HERE.

SB 458failed to pass

SB 458 passed by a 29-17 vote in the Senate. The bill will set stricter liability standards for
companies seeking to drill in the Marcellus Shale deposits in western
Maryland. Companies would also have to disclose the chemicals they use, as well
as carry higher amounts of insurance. The bill now heads to the House of
Delegates for consideration.

This bill would would:

  • set a rebuttable presumption standard that
    requires fracking companies to prove that the drilling or the chemicals used in
    the process were not responsible for the alleged personal injuries, death or
    damage to the environment or property
  • require companies to
    carry liability insurance on each well for a period of 21 years
  • prohibit drilling companies from using defenses that
    they were acting in accordance with industry standards, state or federal law,
    or complying with conditions of a permit issued by a state or federal agency
  • in the event of a lawsuit, allow plaintiffs to
    seek information related to the chemicals used in the fracking process.
    Drilling companies could not challenge the discovery request by claiming the
    information is a trade secret, a commonly accepted defense in other states.

Tough regulations and multiple studies have delayed fracking in the
state for years, while neighboring states; West Virginia and
Pennsylvania, have reaped the benefits. It’s estimated that Garrett County in western Maryland could gain
as many as 2,425 new jobs while realizing $3.6 million in tax revenues
and $13.5 million in severance tax revenues and neighboring Allegany County could see as many
as 908 new jobs, $1.8 million in tax revenues and $2.3 million in
severance tax revenues over 10 years.

Media

The Baltimore Sun | Two bills to curb hydraulic fracturing advancing in Annapolis | 3/20/15
The Daily Record | Different fracking approaches passed by Md. House, Senate | 3/24/15
WBAL | Maryland House, Senate Pass Fracking Moratorium Bills | 3/24/15
The Baltimore Sun | Assembly Votes to ban fracking for two years | 4/10/2015

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