DRBC hosting meeting on fracking in Delaware River basin next week

Environmental groups pushing for a full ban on fracking

The Delaware River Basin Commission is hosting a meeting next Thursday, February 25th, which may determine the future of fracking the Delaware River Basin. The Commissioners are finalizing action on DRBC’s Proposed Amendments to the Administrative Manual and Special Regulations Regarding Hydraulic Fracturing Activities, which closed for public comment in 2018.  The proposal includes a partial ban on fracking, including:

• The prohibition of high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) in such formations
  
• Provisions related to water use for hydraulic fracturing
  
• Provisions related to the management of produced water from hydraulic fracturing

The New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club is pushing for a full ban, including banning fracking waste and taking water out of the Basin. “Having a partial ban that actually allows the dumping of fracking waste still puts the drinking water and environment of the Basin at risk,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club in a press release.

Fracking has been linked to water contamination in drinking water including volatile organic chemicals like benzene, methylbenzene, formaldehyde, and others that are linked to cancer.

The public can attend the meeting on Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 10:30 AM via Zoom by following the instructions here.

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