>Posted February 9, 2011
By Kerry Davis
Capital News Service
ANNAPOLIS — A bill that would effectively impose a hold on natural gas drilling in Western Maryland until further studies are completed will be introduced Thursday in the House of Delegates.
It follows an opposing bill filed Friday that aims to force the Maryland Department of the Environment to approve or deny permits for a type of natural gas drilling known as hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in Garrett County.
Four applications for fracking permits were filed in October 2009 by Samson Energy, which is now concentrating on one potential drill site in Garrett County. Those were the first permits for natural gas hydraulic fracturing ever filed in the state.
The Maryland Department of the Environment has not granted or denied those applications, citing potential environmental effects.