Asking questions before drilling starts - Maryland leads the way
Yesterday, The Washington Post covered the House passage of the Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act. Like you, they understand that drilling for natural gas in shale deposits is beginning all across the nation, and that what we do here in Maryland is being watched closely by communities everywhere.
Click here to read the story in the national section of The Washington Post.
It's true that Maryland has fewer gas deposits than neighboring Pennsylvania and West Virginia. But despite our small role to play in drilling, we can have a big impact on the national debate. Do we want the "drill first, questions later" approach it seems other states have taken? Or do we want to make sure that drilling can be done safely and - if so - that it is done carefully?
Our state government has said that it needs more time to study the issue and that it doesn't yet have the expertise necessary to issue permits for gas extraction. They're asking for additional resources to ensure that we can protect homes, farms, streams, and hunting grounds in Garrett and Allegany Counties from unregulated drilling. That's what the Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Act does, and that's why we're fighting so hard to pass it in the Senate after getting it through the House.
