Connecticut is trying to stay ahead of a potential environmental problem.
Monday, the governor signed a new bill into law that prevents fracking waste from coming into Connecticut. The ban will last three years.
Fracking is a drilling technique used to tap into natural gas from rock layers deep in the earth. The process includes injecting the ground with a solution filled with water, sand and chemicals.
It’s highly controversial because of the potential environmental impact. Environment Connecticut estimates a quarter of a trillion gallons of waste per year is created nationwide by fracking.
It's normally dealt with in the states that tap into the natural gas, but the organization says many states are running out of space and are looking for places to put the waste.
As nearby states like Pennsylvania decide to drill for natural gas, Connecticut isn’t leaving anything to chance.
During the three year ban the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will research what chemicals are involved in the process.
"It also makes sure that those states that are benefiting from tax revenue or other revenues from fracking, if that's the decision that they have made, then don't push to us the handling of these materials,” said Governor Malloy. "We didn't wait until the damage was already done. We got out in front of it and said we're going to make sure we're protected before it happens,” said Martin Mador from the Connecticut Sierra Club.