PA Environment Digest Blog: Delaware River Frack Ban Coalition Launch Initiative To Defend The Delaware River Watershed From Oil & Gas Fracking

The Pledge to Defend the Delaware River Watershed from fracking was launched June 11 before the start of the Delaware River Basin Commission public meeting, held in person in Easton, Northampton County.

A permanent ban prohibiting high volume hydraulic fracturing in the Delaware River Watershed was adopted by the DRBC in February 2021 following a moratorium on gas drilling instituted in 2010 and after more than ten years of comprehensive research and public deliberation.

The ban on fracking has come under attack recently, evoking pushback from the public and representatives of the Delaware River Frack Ban Coalition.

The Pledge says, in part, “I Take This Pledge of Resistance and Protection…in solidarity to uphold the ban on high volume hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and to resist all the harmful activities that fossil gas/oil development brings.”

The announcement included representatives of organizations from throughout the Delaware River Watershed, announcing their allegiance to the frack ban and support for the DRBC’s commitment to preserve the ban for the benefit of the Watershed and its communities and habitats.

“For over 15 years the Delaware River community joined together to defend our River, watershed and communities from the ravages of fracking for fossil fuels. We are here today with a very direct, clear and positive message to the politicians and industry representatives who have been out there in the press speaking about our Delaware River frack ban. This River belongs to us, the people of the Delaware River watershed; and you have neither the right nor the authority to remove the protections we worked so hard to secure. And to the Governors of our watershed who are the Commissioners of the DRBC: we the people will stand with you as long as you continue to defend our watershed from the ravages of fracking; we will stand with you in every way we need to in order to resist the abuses of pressure or power that either industry or the Trump administration seek to exert,” says Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper.

M. van Rossum adds: “DRBC, as long as you stand with the people, you are on solid ground and we will defend you and our River in every way we must.”

“We are here at the Delaware River Basin Commission meeting today standing together with a Pledge to defend the Delaware River Watershed from any and all attempts to overturn the ban on fracking adopted in 2021. The ban protects our communities, environment and the water supply for up to 17 million people and we will not waver in our steadfast commitment to uphold it against all attacks,” said Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Director, Delaware Riverkeeper Network.

“Scientific evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates the many health and environmental hazards of contamination and exposure from fracking,” said Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Program Manager, Taylor Jaffe. “As individuals and organizations, we must protect every community from the dangerous consequences of fracking and uphold New York State’s longstanding ban on fracking and the 2021 ban in the Delaware River Watershed.”

“The Commissioners did not come to their decision to ban fracking in the Delaware River watershed lightly. For more than a decade, they consulted the scientific and technical literature and observed what was happening in regions where fracking was being done before concluding that it posed ‘significant, immediate, and long-term risks to the development, conservation, utilization, management, and preservation of the water resources of the basin….’ The political landscape has changed considerably since the Commissioners’ vote in 2021. We look to them to uphold the ban and will always stand ready to help them,” said Karen Feridun, Founder, Berks Gas Truth.

“Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania stands firmly with the commissioners in defending this critical ban. We commend their leadership and courage in putting science, health, and safety first. PSR PA is here as a resource—we bring scientific expertise, frontline experience, and a deep commitment to protecting communities from the harms of fossil fuel extraction,” said Chris DiGiulio, Environmental Chemist for Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania.

“For more than 15 years, the threats of fracking and its impacts has hung over the Delaware River watershed, especially as fracking’s impacts impacted drinking water in other regions. We don’t want the Delaware River watershed to be a science experiment on how fracking can contaminate our water supplies,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey. “The science DRBC evaluated was resoundingly clear – fracking will pollute our land and our water. The well-researched decision in 2021 came after a decade plus of the public calling on DRBC to protect the watershed from fracking’s threats. While the political science may shift, nothing has changed for the rationale of DRBC’s actions 4 years ago. More than 3 million New Jersey residents depend on the Delaware River watershed – and there’s no reason to revisit DRBC’s decision.”

B. Arrindell, Director of Damascus Citizens for Sustainability stated, ”In light of the recent talk of drilling in the Delaware Basin, though drilling the DRB is now banned, DCS is concerned about the liquid waste from drilling anywhere. Though any waste with fracking materials is prohibited entry into the DRB there is still illegal dumping, accidents, spills - and low dose effects on health. If import of waste is ever allowed, how is the DRBC going to 'protect the resources of the basin'? …that is what the DRBC exists for and is mandated to do. DCS totally supports the DRBC in its mission, and wants it to stay strong.”

Background

The groups said special interests have threatened to attempt to overturn the frack ban, led by Member of Congress Rob Bresnahan from Pennsylvania’s Eighth District, who criticized the DRBC’s ban on fracking and called for “unleashing energy dominance” at a March meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and fracking proponents, claiming Mr. Zeldin expressed support for “the natural gas industry in the Delaware River Basin.”

Rep. Bresnahan doubled down on the issue stating he expected support from the EPA to “…help get our gas rights back…” and to capitalize “…on energy under our feet” and ”…natural gas extraction” At a subsequent telephone Town Hall, he also stated, “I’m committed to reigning in bureaucratic groups like the DRBC.”

Added to the pressures being put on the DRBC as an autonomous interstate agency is federal bill HR 3428 introduced by Congressman Bresnahan to “require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a review of the Mid-Atlantic River Basin Commissions, and for other purposes.”

The bill specifically targets the DRBC and two other commissions with a federal review of their “ethics, policies and practices”, funding sources, responsibilities relative to the federal government, interfacing with the public, and whether their role is “duplicative” of federal authorities.

The Comptroller is to report back in one year. HR 3428 has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

As of June 11, there was one cosponsor of the bill, Congressman Scott Perry, [R-PA-10].

Click Here for the Coalition announcement. Click Here for a video from the event.

Visit the Pledge to Defend the Delaware River Watershed webpage for more information on the pledge.

Resource Links - DRBC Fracking Ban:

-- Republican Herald Editorial: One-Sided Discussions On Issues Don’t Promote True Progress, EPA Visit Was Not A 'Roundtable Discussion,' But A 'Rally' For Natural Gas In Delaware River Basin [PaEN]

-- Delaware Currents: Federal Judge Dismisses Wayne County Land & Mineral Group Lawsuit Against Delaware River Basin Commission Over Fracking Ban [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Clarifies New Regulations On Oil/Gas Fracking Wastewater Bans Road Spreading, Disposal From Conventional Wells [PaEN]

-- Delaware River Basin Commission Adopts A Ban On Discharging Wastewater From Hydraulic Fracturing Drilling Operations, Strengthens Rules On Exporting, Importing Water To Support Fracking [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - June 14 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 96 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In June 14 PA Bulletin [PaEN]