SierraActivist » Delaware River

Commissioner Martin: Don’t Sell New Jersey’s Water Supply Short

Dennis — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:21:11 +0000

For Immediate Release
July 27, 2010
Contact: Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club Director, 609-558-9100

Commissioner Martin: Don’t Sell New Jersey’s Water Supply Short

New Jersey should be deeply concerned with proposals for shale drilling and hydro fracking in the Delaware River Basin. The Delaware River is the source of drinking water for three million New Jersey residents. Currently, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has a moratorium in place on new wells, however, we are concerned with the position New Jersey is taking on this issue.

In a letter sent July 13 to the DRBC, DEP Commissioner Bob Martin makes a number of troubling assertions regarding fracking in the Marcellus Shale. In the letter, Commissioner Martin says he believes Pennsylvania should have primacy over the rules and regulations on fracking in the Marcellus shale. However, fracking will have serious impacts on the Delaware River, which provides drinking water for both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“What happens in Pennsylvania affects the entire river basin, especially New Jersey. Pennsylvania should not have primacy over decisions impacting the river basin,” New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said. “The DRBC was created to regulate water for the region and these decisions should not be made by one state. New Jersey plays a very important role in the DRBC and New Jersey should be standing up for its own interests, not Pennsylvania’s.”

Pennsylvania has some of the worst water problems in the nation that they repeatedly fail to deal with. It has fought against strengthening standards and eliminating pollution from waterways. Pennsylvania is constantly opposing land use regulations that protect water and pushing for more dumping. Furthermore, Pennsylvania is leasing public lands for well drilling and therefore has a conflict of interest because they are looking to make money through fracking.

“Pennsylvania has consistently done a poor job protecting its water. They do not need to be in the business of protecting New Jersey’s drinking water,” Tittel said.

Hydro fracking is the process of extracting natural gas from wells thousands of feet deep. This process involves the use of many chemicals, which are mixed with water and injected into the ground. The average frack uses between one million and six million gallons of water each frack and many get fracked three or four times before going into production. Additionally, each frack needs maintenance fracking afterwards.

Fracking fluid is water mixed with numerous chemicals, many which are hazardous and toxic, including benzene, components of salt, and other volatile organic chemicals. This process can contaminate streams and rivers through the discharge of fracking fluids or accidental spills. Much of the fracking fluid injected into the ground does not get removed and could contaminate our aquifers, posing a serious threat to our ground water.

Each Marcellus shale well will destroy 15 acres of forest and require a half mile of roadway. There are currently over 10,000 wells seeking permits. The entire Delaware River Basin could see as many as 50,000 wells. This could result in the removal of a million acres of woodlands and farmland and the construction of 30,000 miles of road and pipelines. The runoff and pollution will cause irreparable damage to the Delaware River Watershed. Thanks to Dick Cheney’s Energy Task Force and the Bush Administration’s changes to the Safe Drinking Water Act, fracking fluids are now exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act. The largest company looking to drill in the Marcellus Shale happens to be Halliburton.

In his letter, Commissioner Martin also says he wants the DRBC to complete its rules on fracking by the end of September. Because fracking is a very complex issue with a tremendous amount of environmental impacts, the Sierra Club believes we should not be rushing to put rules in place without a complete understanding of the impacts this process will have on the Delaware River in New Jersey. The Commissioner’s letter and recent actions, including the approval of the Tenaco gas pipeline through the Highlands to transport gas from the Marcellus Shale, are cause for serious concern regarding fracking and the quality of our drinking water.

Thanks to Congressman Rush Holt, the EPA has just received public money to study the impacts of fracking on our water. We believe it would be prudent to wait for the results of that review before moving forward with drilling. Rules should not be put in place until the EPA releases its study that assesses the impacts Marcellus Shale drilling will have on water quality and quantity.

The DRBC currently has a temporary and incomplete moratorium on fracking that will expire before the EPA’s impact study is released and full regulations are in place. The moratorium does not include previously permitted drilling projects or related projects like Stone Energy’s application to withdraw 700,000 million gallons per day from a major tributary. The state of Delaware opposed this project but New Jersey supported Pennsylvania in approving it.

The Delaware River is a critical natural resource that not only provides drinking water for millions but is also an important recreational resource. Many people come to the region to kayak, boat, tube and enjoy various water activities. Because of this, the river is the center of a very strong economy for river towns like Lambertville and Frenchtown. If the Delaware River is polluted, it will destroy not just the water, but the economies of these towns as well.

“We do not want to see the Gulf of Mexico in Pennsylvania,” Tittel said. “There have been a series of spills, explosions and even deaths with Marcellus Shale drilling already in Pennsylvania and other places. We’re concerned that unless this is strictly and properly regulated, what has happened to the Gulf of Mexico could happen to the Delaware River.”

Video: NJN – NJDEP Commissioner Calls Upon PA, DRBC to Develop Rules for Natural Gas Drilling, Fracking

Dennis — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:19:42 +0000

New Jersey’s Environmental Protection Commissioner says Pennsylvania should develop rules for controversial natural gas drilling in their state, while environmentalists believe the drilling process is a threat to the Delaware River.

Video: NJN – DRBC Grants Controversial Permit for Natural Gas Drilling in Delaware River Watershed

Dennis — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:28:08 +0000

Regulators have granted a controversial permit for a natural gas drilling project in the Delaware River water shed.

Alert: Stop Unregulated Gas Drilling in the Delaware River Watershed

Dennis — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:34:41 +0000

An unregulated drilling technique is putting the water supply for Trenton, Phillipsburg and many South Jersey towns at risk and we need your help to protect it. (Click this link to send an e-mail message and to take other actions!)

Natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale (PA & NY) is threatening to pollute New Jersey’s drinking water for a million and a half people and to deforest the Delaware River watershed. A new process called hydrofracking , injects chemicals into millions of gallons of clean water to drill horizontally for natural gas. The chemical mixture that remains is difficult to treat and risks seeping in to our drinking water.

Come join the NJ Sierra Club and the Delaware Riverkeeper next Wednesday (7/14/10) to rally outside of a Delaware River Basin Commission Meeting on this important issue. Until federal regulations for hydrofracking are set our organizations are asking for a complete moratorium on all natural gas projects in the Marcellus Shale.

What: Rally at Delaware River Basin Commission Public Meeting

When: 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 14

Where: West Trenton Volunteer Fire Company http://www.wtvfc.org/directions.htm

40 West Upper Ferry Road, Ewing, NJ 08628-2714 (609) 883-0325

Why: We need a complete and total moratorium on all natural gas projects in the Delaware River Watershed until the comprehensive study of the cumulative impact of gas projects is completed and all regulations are adopted. It’s urgent that we act to preserve the high water quality of the Delaware River.

The Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf is a daily reminder what can happen when energy companies go unregulated. Tell the DRBC we don’t want the same to happen in the Delaware River.

Let us know if you can join us at the hearing or send a letter to the commission.

Thank you for your support,

NJ Sierra Club Staff

P.S. There are carpools being organized in the Philadelphia area and a car shuttle running from the West Trenton Septa Train Station. To get more info on carpools or train pick up, contact DRN at 215-369-1188 ext. 110.

More information:

- The Delaware River Watershed supplies drinking water for 15 million people including one million New Jerseyans. Hydrofracking can, and has, contaminated drinking water supplies and streams and rivers.

- Each fracking well will destroy 15 acres of forest and need a half mile of roadway. There are currently proposals for more than 50,000 wells. This could mean the removal of 750,000 acres of woodlands and the construction of 25,000 miles of road. The runoff and pollution will cause irreparable damage to the Delaware River Watershed.

- The EPA is currently researching a comprehensive report due in 2012. The federal government has not yet passed the Frack Act to force the drilling companies to reveal the hundreds of toxic chemicals injected into the wells and comply with the Clean Air and Water Acts and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

- The DRBC has placed a temporary and incomplete moratorium. The current moratorium will expire before the EPA’s impact study is released and full regulations are in place. The moratorium does not include previously permitted drilling projects or related projects like Stone Energy’s application to withdraw 700,000 million gallons per day from a major tributary.

- Consequently, it is essential that the DRBC act by adopting a total moratorium on gas projects while conducting a thorough analysis of the cumulative impacts of extended gas development and then adopts comprehensive regulations to protect and preserve the Delaware River Watershed for us and future generations.

Video: NJN – Natural Gas Drilling Near Delaware River

Dennis — Fri, 28 May 2010 13:27:52 +0000

Another battle is brewing over natural gas drilling near the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.

Delaware Supervisors Want DRBC to Finish Gas Drilling Regulations

Dennis — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:43:22 +0000

Hamden covered bridge over the West Branch of the Delaware River.

Walton Reporter (no website) May 19, 2010

By Robert A. Cairns

DELHI – The Delaware County Board of Supervisors wants the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to hurry up and approve regulations for natural gas drilling.

At last week’s board meeting, supervisors adopted a resolution, calling on the DRBC to “expedite the promulgation of rules and regulations to allow natural gas drilling” in areas that drain into so-called “special protection waters.”

The resolution notes that the portion of Delaware County that lies in the New York City watershed is subject to stricter regulations than most areas of the state and says the DRBC is exercising “discretionary authority” in the county. It states that, without rules and regulations, permit approval procedures are “arbitrary and capricious.”

The resolution “strongly recommends” that New York Governor David Paterson, who is a commissioner of the DRBC, intervene and demand that rules be established.

Meredith Supervisor Keitha Capouya said she was “in complete accord” with much of the resolution, but could not support it. She read a letter from an opponent of gas drilling and said she had received others. While she agreed that Delaware County should be treated equally with the rest of the state and not face additional regulations because it is in New York City’s watershed, she said the process of creating regulations should not be rushed. “I think there’s a lot of work to be done, and I’d like to see it done,” she said.

Hancock Supervisor Sam Rowe said the DRBC “is taking this stance,” holding up its regulations, without seeing what will be in the final state rules on drilling. “It’s got to be done responsibly, we all know that,” he said. He noted, however, that regulated drilling is already happening in the watershed of the Susquehanna River. “I don’t think they need to try to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “Government and industry should be coming together to develop the green technology to extract this stuff.”

Colchester Supervisor Robert Homovich criticized the DRBC. “It’s an environmental group. They’re always against everything. They always will be,” he said. “The last thing we want is the DRBC to join forces with the city and completely take over this county.” He said rules that prevent residents from selling resources are “thievery,” and said, “If they want to take that, they should pay for it.”

Board Chairman and Harpersfield Supervisor James Eisel said gas can be extracted safely. “Every day, there’s new technology coming out,” he said. “The technology is there. They just have to hear us. We just have to find the right way to do this.”

At the end of the discussion, the resolution was approved with only Capouya opposed.

Alert: Gas Driller Wants Delaware Water – DRBC Public Hearing 2/24

Dennis — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:34:03 +0000

natural gas drilling, originally uploaded by arimoore.

From NY H2O- GAS DRILLING CONTAMINATES WATER NATIONWIDE. BUT WE CAN SAVE NY!

SAVE THE DELAWARE RIVER!

The Delaware River Basin Commission is at it again…
Stone Energy Corporation is trying to ‘frack’ with the protected Delaware River.

We need everyone at the Public Hearing to stand up against toxic gas drilling!

When: Wednesday, Feb. 24th 3-7pm

Where: Best Western Inn at Hunt’s Landing, 126 Routes 6 & 209, Matamoras, Pennsylvania 18336

Write in if you can offer a ride. Thank you!

Keep swimming,

Monica and Laura

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Stone Energy Corporation Proposed Surface Water Withdrawal and Natural Gas Well Site

View Draft Dockets D-2009-013-1and D-2009-018-1

SUMMARY: Because of the high level of public interest in projects within the Delaware Basin that are associated with natural gas drilling activities, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC or “Commission”) will hold a special public hearing on two projects sponsored by the Stone Energy Corporation (hereinafter, “Stone Energy”) to support natural gas exploration and development activities within the basin. One of the two projects entails a surface water withdrawal from the West Branch Lackawaxen River in Mount Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania (Docket No. D-2009-13-1). The other concerns an existing natural gas well drilling pad site in Clinton Township, Pennsylvania (Docket No. D-2009-18-1). Both projects are located in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, within the drainage area of a portion of the main stem Delaware River that the Commission has classified as Special Protection Waters.

DATES: The hearing will take place on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Written comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on March 12, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The hearing will take place at the Best Western Inn at Hunt’s Landing, 126 Routes 6 & 209, Matamoras, Pennsylvania 18336, beginning at 3:00 p.m. and ending at 7:00 p.m. Written comments may be submitted at the hearing and may also be sent as follows: via email to Paula.Schmitt@drbc.state.nj.us and otherwise to the attention of the Commission Secretary, DRBC, either by fax to (609) 883-9522; U.S. Mail to P.O. Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360; or delivery service to 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360. Regardless of the method of submission, comments should include the name, affiliation (if any) and address of the commenter and the subject line “Public Comment – Stone Energy Dockets.”

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Draft dockets. Dockets Nos. D-2009-13-1** (water withdrawal) and D-2009-18-1** (natural gas well drilling pad site) can be viewed on the Commission’s website, DRBC.net, as a link from this notice.

Hearing Procedure. In order to give everyone who wishes to testify a fair and equal opportunity to do so at the public hearing, which is expected to be heavily attended, the following procedures will be in effect:

Registration to testify. Individuals who wish to speak at the hearing will be requested to print their names on a numbered list and complete a separate DRBC commenter card. Registration to present oral testimony will begin at approximately 2:30 p.m. (30 minutes prior to the beginning of the hearing) and will continue until the hearing is closed. There will be no advance registration prior to February 24. For the convenience of those who wish to speak, more than one registration list may be used. Accordingly, speakers will be called in roughly, but not exactly, the order in which they registered.
Time allowances. In order to allow everyone who wishes to speak an opportunity to do so, individuals will be allotted no more than three minutes to present their oral testimony. Speakers will not be permitted to cede their time to others; however, after everyone who wishes to speak has had a chance to do so, the hearing officer will accept requests from those who wish to supplement their earlier remarks. Individuals who have prepared written testimony are asked to summarize their comments during the three-minute period for oral testimony and to submit their complete written comments either at the public hearing or via email, fax, U.S. Mail, delivery service, or hand delivery in accordance with the “Addresses” section above, before 5:00 p.m. on March 12.
Stenographic record. A court stenographer will be present to capture all verbal comments for the public record.
Other. The sole purpose of the hearing on February 24 is to provide members of the public with an opportunity for oral testimony on the proposed Stone Energy dockets. The Commissioners and staff will not respond to comments at the hearing, nor will they conduct any other business that day. Because a separate hearing on the Stone Energy dockets is being held on February 24, oral testimony on these dockets will not be accepted during the Commission’s regularly scheduled business meeting and public hearing on March 3, 2010. A separate notice will be published listing the hearing items and other matters to be considered during the meeting on March 3.

Project Descriptions. Detailed descriptions of the two projects are included in the draft dockets posted on the Commission’s website (DRBC.net) as links from this notice. Brief descriptions of the two projects follow:

Stone Energy Corporation D-2009-13-1. An application for approval of a surface water withdrawal project to supply up to 21.0 mg/30 days (0.70 mgd) of water from a withdrawal point located on the West Branch Lackawaxen River in Mount Pleasant Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania within the drainage area of the section of the Delaware River classified as Special Protection Waters (SPW). The water will be used to support natural gas well stimulation activities in an existing well located in Clinton Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania (the Matoushek #1 well), located within the drainage area of SPW, and in proposed natural gas wells targeting the Marcellus Shale geologic formation within the SPW drainage area in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Flow-back water from well stimulation activities is proposed to be exported to approved treatment facilities located outside of the Delaware River Basin.

Stone Energy Corporation D-2009-18-1. An application for approval of an existing natural gas well drilling pad site, including an existing vertically orientated natural gas well known as Matoushek #1, located in Clinton Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. The well is proposed to be stimulated through hydraulic fracturing from a proposed surface water source. An application for the proposed surface water withdrawal is being reviewed by the Commission under Docket No. D-2009-13-1. The proposed surface water withdrawal is located on the West Branch Lackawaxen River in Mount Pleasant Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania. The target gas bearing geologic formation of Matoushek #1 is the Devonian-age Marcellus Shale. Flow-back water resulting from stimulation activities at the well is proposed to be exported to approved treatment facilities outside of the Delaware River Basin. The proposed drilling site is located within the drainage area of the section of the non-tidal Delaware River known as the Upper Delaware, which is designated as Special Protection Waters.

Additional public records relating to the draft Stone Energy docket may be available for review consistent with Article 8 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (RPP) governing public access to records and information. The RPP are also available on the Commission’s website, http://www.drbc.net.

Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act who wish to attend the hearing should contact the commission secretary directly at 609-883-9500 ext. 203 or through the Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) at 711, to discuss how the Commission can accommodate your needs.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the upcoming hearing that are not answered in the section of this notice entitled “Supplementary Information”, please contact Ms. Paula Schmitt at 609-477-7224 or Ms. Katharine O’Hara at 609-477-7205.

Dated: February 9, 2010
Pamela M. Bush
Commission Secretary & Assistant General Counsel

Photos: Petty’s Island – January 4, 2005

Dennis — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 22:53:14 +0000

Citgo is offering to give a conservation easement of 392-acre Petty’s Island in the Delaware River for FREE and to clean up ALL contamination to government environmental standards. Citgo is also offering to donate $2 million to a land trust to manage and conserve the island. Taxpayers will not be liable for any environmental clean up costs. Unfortunately the state of NJ has refused Citgo’s gift, since a connected developer has plans for a golf course, single-family luxury homes and a high-rise hotel and convention center. The environmental community is working against the clock, to preserve the island as a protected habitat for the threatened and endangered species that live there. Read more about Petty’s Island. Take action and respond to our alert.

To view a fullscreen slide show click View with PicLens and then click the full-screen graphic on the lower right screen.

[View with PicLens]

Expert Faces Charges In Bald Eagle's Death and Falconer Linked To Developer Is Accused In Death Of Eaglet. " class="shutterset_set_3" >

SierraActivist » Delaware River

Commissioner Martin: Don’t Sell New Jersey’s Water Supply Short

Commissioner Martin: Don’t Sell New Jersey’s Water Supply Short

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