June 10th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Department of the Environment says it will hold three public meetings this month to discuss proposed regulations for hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the state.

The agency said in a statement Thursday evening that the first meeting will be held June 22 in Cumberland. Subsequent meetings are scheduled June 27 in Baltimore and June 29 in McHenry.

The agency is required by law to adopt regulations by Oct. 1, but no drilling would be permitted before Oct. 1, 2017.