Judge Puts NC Fracking on Hold Pending Outcome of Lawsuit

Last July MDN told you that the first permits to frack shale wells in North Carolina would start to be issued this July (see North Carolina Shames New York: Fracking Begins in 2015). The NC Mining and Energy Commission did its part and completed regulations in March (see Triassic Park: North Carolina Becomes 34th State to Frack Shale). Everything was set to go. And then the lawsuits began. A NC judge has issued a ruling that prohibits the Mining and Energy Commission from issuing any permits until another case currently before the NC Supreme Court--questioning the legality of the appointment of several boards that manage state resources and the environment--plays out. It's a pretty safe bet that the first permits to frack in NC won't happen in July...

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