Maryland Petroleum Council director says proposed hydraulic fracturing regulations would harm economy

Maryland’s proposed hydraulic fracturing regulations would harm jobs, investments and economic growth and would be the most restrictive in the United States, Executive Director of the Maryland Petroleum Council Drew Cobbs said this week.

The regulations have been drafted by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and were reviewed by the legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review in hearings on Tuesday.

The concerns voiced by Cobbs include setback requirements, well construction and casing requirements and restricted access to several areas near watersheds.

“We are an industry that has a proven record of providing environmental and economic benefits,” Cobbs said. “As written, a number of the proposed regulations are overly restrictive and would undermine our proven track record on safety proven through the development of millions of wells. We need policies that protect jobs and investment in Western Maryland, and these new regulations would take us in the wrong direction.”

With natural gas use on the rise, hydraulic fracturing could create more than 3,600 jobs in two Maryland counties, Garrett and Allegany, in the next 10 years, according to a 2014 study by Towson University.

Many opponents of hydraulic fracturing believe regulations would not be enough and are pushing for a ban because of health and environmental concerns. A continued moratorium, however, seems more likely.

If the regulations pass, Maryland could begin to permit drilling in Oct. 2017.