North Carolina closer to joining the "fracking" boom

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

North Carolina closer to joining the "fracking" boom

By Wade Rawlins
RALEIGH, North Carolina | Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:42pm EDT

(Reuters) - North Carolina moved closer to joining a number of states that have embraced shale gas exploration using hydrofracking, under legislation the state's House of Representatives approved Thursday.

The measure creates a regulatory framework to oversee drilling for shale gas and lifts the current ban on the use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to tap deposits of shale gas trapped deep underground. No permits for actual drilling would be issued for at least two years.

House Republicans passed the legislation by a 66-43 vote in a party line vote and it now returns to the Senate, which previously passed a different version of the bill.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

North Carolina's existing laws regarding oil and gas exploration do not allow the techniques of horizontal drilling or fracking.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/15/us-usa-northcarolina-gas-idUSBRE85E02220120615

[stuntcat]

1. guess the strip-mining and mountaintop removal just weren't enough?

NC's my state