"Gov. Hogan quietly lets the 30-day window to veto the moratorium measure expire. The bill becomes law Oct. 1."

"Maryland's fracking moratorium survived its last possible political challenge today.

Gov. Larry Hogan's 30-day window to veto the bill ends Friday night. The governor has already said he won't reject or approve the measure, which mandates a moratorium on the controversial process for oil-and-gas drilling until October 2017. This means the bill will automatically become law later this year because it passed in both the state Assembly and Senate with more than two-thirds of the vote.

While campaigning for governor last year, Hogan, a Republican, called fracking "an economic gold mine." But since he took office in late January, Hogan has remained quiet on the issue."

Zahra Hirji reports for InsideClimate News May 29, 2015. [2]