NC Senate gives its final OK to fracking bill
NC Senate gives its final OK to bill allowing fracking permits to begin in early 2015
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Legislation setting a potential March 2015 starting date when North Carolina regulators could begin issuing permits for underground natural gas drilling such as fracking now goes to the House.
The Senate gave its final approval Wednesday in a 39-7 vote to the measure that bill supporters say will give potential drilling operators certainty that North Carolina wants companies to explore for energy. Tentative Senate approval came Tuesday.
The General Assembly authorized fracking in 2012 but said permits couldn't be issued without the express consent of legislators. Drilling rules will be ready late next year.
The bill also sets up severance taxes on energy production and urges Gov. Pat McCrory to work on offshore energy exploration.
Environmental groups say the process is going too fast and fracking threatens water quality.
