State Shale News

	Vt. becomes 1st state to ban hydraulic fracturing Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed into law the nation's first ban on a hotly debated natural gas drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing.
	Report: Regulations reducing gas-drilling impacts A study by the University at Buffalo's new shale gas institute concludes that state oversight of gas drilling has been effective at reducing environmental problems.
	UPDATE: Panel Approves New Horizontal Drilling Rules A state legislative panel in Ohio has updated rules from the state's natural resources agency on horizontal oil and gas drilling.
	NW Pa. Fracking Firm Lays Off 40 Over Low Prices A northwestern Pennsylvania fracking operation has laid off 40 workers because low natural gas prices are slowing down drilling efforts.
	Sierra Club Blocks Md. Natural Gas Export Terminal The Sierra Club says it will block an energy company's plan to export liquefied natural gas from the booming Marcellus Shale formation.