Governors endorse basin fracking ban

FRITZ MAYER
Posted 5/22/19

PHILADELPHHIA, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf announced on May 16 that he supports a total ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of oil and gas wells in the Delaware River Watershed. He also said he …

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Governors endorse basin fracking ban

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PHILADELPHHIA, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf announced on May 16 that he supports a total ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of oil and gas wells in the Delaware River Watershed. He also said he supports a ban on transferring water into or out off the basin to support drilling operations.

The announcement came two days after the Pennsylvania House began debating a bill sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Fritz (R-District 111, Wayne and Susquehanna counties) that would require the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to compensate property owners if the commission prohibits fracking on their land.

Wolf’s comments came at a summit with Delaware Gov. John Carney and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. The governors issued a proclamation with a pledge to work “together to make the Delaware River Basin the national model for sustainable economic development, drinkable clean water, healthy fish and wildlife populations, outdoor recreation, and nature-based climate resilience….”

“The Delaware River is a great resource for recreation, an economic engine for the eastern part of our state and a vital drinking water source for millions of Pennsylvanians,” said Wolf. “We’re proud of the work we’ve done to clean up our waterways and look forward to working with our neighboring states to continue our progress.”

Environmental groups applauded the three governors for expanding the ban on fracking which has effectively been in place since 2010.

The release from the groups, which include Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Catskill Mountainkeeper, Clean Water Action NJ, Damascus Citizens for Sustainability, Delaware Sierra Club, Environment New Jersey, Food and Water Watch, and Natural Resources Defense, said, “While New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was unable to attend the event because he was announcing another pivotal decision worthy of praise and applause—denial of the Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline that would have run through New York and New Jersey carrying Pennsylvania fracked-shale gas—we look forward to him joining with his fellow watershed governors in supporting and quickly advancing the full ban on fracking, frack wastewater and water withdrawals for fracking.”

“The Governors’ bold stance to protect the Delaware River watershed by advancing a complete ban on fracking, the importation of toxic frack wastewater, and the exportation of frack drilling water, will protect the water resources of the Delaware River for the millions that rely upon our watershed for drinking water, recreation, economic prosperity and healthy ecosystems, and will help in the international effort to protect present and future generations from the devastating ravages of climate change.”

The members of the Pennsylvania House, meanwhile, did not take a vote on Fritz’s legislation, and left for the Memorial Day break on May 15, and are not due back for a voting session until June 6.

news, fracking, endorsement, delaware river watershed, delaware river basin committee, environmental

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