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Bill to Stop Natural Gas Drilling Fails, Along with Other Environmental Legislation

mskerryd — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:35:37 +0000

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A bill that would have imposed a two-year moratorium on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation while an environmental impact study was completed stalled in the Senate this legislative session after easily passing the House.

By Kerry Davis
Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS -- A bill that would have imposed a two-year moratorium on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation while an environmental impact study was completed stalled in the Senate this legislative session after easily passing the House.

It is unclear how heavily the bill's failure will actually affect drilling into the Marcellus Shale formation via hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," since a hold has already been unofficially placed on drilling there.

Marcellus Shale Drilling Moratorium Poised For House Passage

mskerryd — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 04:00:00 +0000

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Legislation to create a temporary moratorium on natural gas drilling in Western Maryland's Marcellus Shale deposits appears poised for passage in the House of Delegates.

By David Saleh Rauf

Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS - Legislation to create a temporary moratorium on natural gas drilling in Western Maryland's Marcellus Shale deposits appears poised for passage in the House of Delegates.

The full House gave the bill preliminary approval Tuesday after the chamber rejected five amendments and an attempt to shelve debate by the proposal's staunchest opponent, Delegate Wendell Beitzel, R-Garrett.

Bay Health Continues Poor; Slight Improvements Shown

aflynn — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:01:57 +0000

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By MORGAN GIBSON and JENNIFER HLAD
Capital News Service
Wednesday, April 7, 2010

ANNAPOLIS - Despite 25 years of restoration and protection efforts, the Chesapeake Bay's health is still bad and making only slight improvements, according to an assessment released Wednesday.

Watermen Want More Say in Oyster Management

rlorente — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:16:11 +0000

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By JENNIFER HLAD
Capital News Service
Tuesday, March 9, 2010

ANNAPOLIS - Watermen converged on the State House on Tuesday to voice their support for bills that would drastically diminish the Department of Natural Resources' ability to regulate oyster harvesting.

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Watermen oppose Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposed Oyster Restoration and Aquaculture Development Plan. CNS Photo by Jennifer Hlad.

Former Gov. Hughes Reflects on the Chesapeake Bay

rlorente — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

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"I'm getting more optimistic than I was, say, five years ago, particularly with the federal government taking the action they're taking," said former Gov. Harry Hughes.

By JAMES B. HALE
Capital News Service
Friday, December 18, 2009

DENTON - Former Gov. Harry Hughes sat recently in his favorite chair at his Denton home and remembered how at one point he had almost lost all hope for the Chesapeake Bay.

Flanked on one side by a painting of himself as governor and on the other by a photo at his inauguration, Hughes reflected on his eight years leading Maryland.

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Former Gov. Harry Hughes stands in the living room of his Denton home. CNS Photo by James B. Hale.

Mid-Atlantic Governors Commit to Offshore Wind Energy

rlorente — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 +0000

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By CATHERINE KRIKSTAN
Capital News Service
Tuesday, November 10, 2009

ANNAPOLIS - The governors of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware agreed Tuesday to a partnership to encourage the deployment of offshore wind energy in the region, hoping to capitalize on the Mid-Atlantic's enormous offshore wind resources.

Govs. Martin O'Malley, Tim Kaine and Jack Markell's agreement aims to generate clean, renewable energy and green jobs.

From Grass to Water, Bay Experts Differ on Meaning of 'Clean'

rlorente — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:00:00 +0000

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The Bay is Nowhere Close to Clean

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When John Smith traveled the bay 400 years ago, he wrote that oysters, "lay as thick as stones," and that sturgeon were plentiful -- "more than could be devoured by dog or man."

By ALEKSANDRA ROBINSON
Capital News Service
Friday, September 25, 2009

WASHINGTON - After the rain, Baltimore's Inner Harbor is clogged with an eclectic combination of garbage -- soda bottles and a large purple ball, sticks and dirt, candy wrappers and a hollowed-out television.

"The bay right now has more dead water than it ever has -- and that's from the waterman's experience not from a scientific viewpoint," said Larry Simns, president of the Maryland Watermen's Association.

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Trash and weeds line the shore near General Ship Repair Corp.'s shipyard in Baltimore. CNS photo by Aleksandra Robinson.