Could fracking soon come to Maryland? Fracking isn't currently allowed in Maryland, but it could be next year. The process of drawing up state regulations has attracted public interest and protests at the Maryland Department of the Environment. Developing rules for the natural gas extraction process known as fracking is a work in progress in Maryland, and it's about halfway done. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT ON FRACKING REGULATIONS AND THE WORK IN PROGRESS. >> NO FRACKING! KATE: ANTI-FRACKING GROUPS STAGE A RALLY OUTSIDE THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT ON MONDAY NIGHT. >> ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS IT MUST BE STOPPED IS WE NEED TO KEEP ON BOTH FOSSIL FEUDS -- FOSSIL FUELS IN THE GROUND TO AVOID THE WORST EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. KATE: DEVELOPING ROLES FOR THE NATURAL GAS EXTRACTION PROCESS KNOWN AS BRAGGING IS A WORK IN PROGRESS HERE IN MARYLAND. AND IT IS ABOUT HALFWAY DONE. LASTLY, THE NDE UNVEILED ITS PROVISIONS. >> LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS, STRENGTHEN THE SAFEGUARDS AND MAKE THE WHOLE PACKAGE OF SAFEGUARDS WERE COUPLE AND ACHIEVABLE. -- WORKABLE AND ACHIEVABLE. KATE: I ROTATE ON SETBACKS REQUIRED FOR THE GAS FOR ITS UP AND UP A WHOLE OPERATION. THE AGENCY WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF AIR AND WATER TESTING REQUIRED. OPPONENTS SAY THE REVISED PLAN IS A WEAKER ONE. ENERGY ADVOCATES DON'T LIKE THE PROPOSAL IN THE CURRENT FORM. THE STATE TO SAYS THAT MEANS THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. >> WE ARE NOT IN A POPULARITY CONTEST. TRY TO FIND THE SAFEST MOST EFFECTIVE AND PRACTICAL SET OF REGULATIONS IN K'S FRACKING DOES COME TO WESTERN MARYLAND. -- IN CASE FRACKING DOES COME TO WESTERN MARYLAND. KATE: OCTOBER 1, 2015 -- 2016.

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