Gov. Martin O’Malley on Tuesday named the members of a panel to review the effects of drilling in the Marcellus Shale in Western Maryland.
“I am mindful of the potential benefits that could come from Maryland’s Marcellus Shale gas reserves,” the governor said. “There are, however, many legitimate public health, safety, environmental, and natural resource issues concerning exploration and extraction of gas from the Marcellus Shale in Maryland.”
O’Malley said the commission would review the “best practices, and appropriate changes, if any, to the laws and regulations concerning oil and gas.”
The commission will be headed by David Vanko, a geologist and dean of the Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics at Towson University. Other members include: State Sen. George Edwards; Del. Heather Mizeur; Steven M. Bunker, director of Conservation Programs, Maryland Office of the Nature Conservancy; John Fritts, president of the Savage River Watershed Association and director of development for the Federation of American Scientists; and Jeffrey Kupfer, senior adviser, Chevron Government Affairs.
The Marcellus Shale is the largest-known natural gas reservoir in the country. By the end of the year, the Maryland Department of the Environment and the Department of Natural Resources will present a report on the perks of revenue sources tied to such drilling.
