Vt. becomes 1st state to ban hydraulic fracturing
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed into law the nation's first ban on a hotly debated natural gas drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing.
Surrounded by environmentalists and students from Twinfield Union School who pushed for the ban, Shumlin said at Wednesday's bill signing the new law may help Vermont set an example for other states.
Hydraulic fracturing involves the high-pressure injection of water and chemicals into the ground to split rock apart and release natural gas or oil.
It's being used extensively in the rapidly expanding natural gas industry in Pennsylvania, but has been blamed for contaminating drinking water wells of some residents living near the drilling operations.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)























