DRBC Fracking Rules Don’t Go Far Enough to Protect Clean Water

For Immediate Release

The Delaware River Basin Commission released its long-awaited draft rules regarding fracking in the Delaware River watershed. In response, Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter released the following statement:

“Banning fracking means a full ban on all fracking-related activities in the Delaware River watershed. While a ban on drilling and fracking is a victory, the rules proposed today by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) fall short of this larger goal, and the governors of the DRBC states should expect to hear that message from thousands of constituents over the coming weeks and months.

“A comprehensive ban on fracking in the Delaware River basin means no drilling, no disposal or storage of toxic fracking waste, and no water withdrawals to drilling companies. The rules announced today open the door to waste treatment and water withdrawals for fracking, which is totally unacceptable.

“Starting in 2011, a coalition of residents in communities dependent on the Delaware basin have protected the watershed from fracking. This fracking-friendly compromise plan is simply unacceptable. The thousands of advocates who have spent years campaigning to ban drilling in the Delaware River basin will make their voices heard once more to Governors Tom Wolf, Andrew Cuomo, John Carney, and Governor-elect Phil Murphy.

“Allowing fracking waste near the river basin endangers a source of clean drinking water for millions of people in Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York City and Delaware.

“Fracking has no place in the Delaware River watershed, or anywhere else for that matter. Now is the time for bold action on clean, renewable energy—and that requires an immediate end to dangerous fossil fuel extraction projects that are creating climate chaos.”

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