By: Matt Bush // March 20, 2012
A bill in Maryland that would implement a fee on all land leased for the controversial natural gas drilling technique known as “fracking” has passed the House of Delegates by an 88-49 vote.
Del. Heather Mizuer (D) of Montgomery County sponsored the bill, which would take the money raised by the fees and spend it on a study of the effects of hydraulic fracturing. Opponents of the practice say the technique is responsible for poisoned water supplies and earthquakes in other states that lie on top of the Marcellus Shale. Companies are seeking to extract natural gas from the rock formation in Maryland.
“It’s a question of whether does the taxpayer pay or does the industry pay? And we think the industry should pay for this,” Mizuer said after a floord debate in the House.
Mizuer dismissed claims that growth of the industry in the state would bring jobs with it, noting that gas companies bring in professionals on their payrolls from outside the area.
More here.
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