A regulatory agency that’s responsible for the water supply of more than 13 million people in four Northeastern states voted Thursday to permanently ban natural gas drilling and fracking near a crucial waterway, asserting that gas development poses an unacceptable risk.
The Delaware River Basin Commission cited “significant immediate and long-term risks” from gas extraction, saying in a resolution that drillers have “adversely impacted surface-water and groundwater resources, including sources of drinking water, and have harmed aquatic life in some regions.”
The ban applies to two counties in Pennsylvania’s northeastern tip that are part of the nation’s largest gas field, the Marcellus Shale. Nearly 13,000 wells have been drilled elsewhere in the vast Marcellus formation, turning Pennsylvania into the nation’s No. 2 gas-producing state.
“The fracking ban in the Delaware River Basin is a momentous victory for public health, the environment, and against climate change,” said Kimberly Ong, an attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Republican state lawmakers in Pennsylvania as well as a landowners group have filed lawsuits challenging the commission’s right to regulate gas development in the watershed. A lawyer for the GOP legislators accused the basin commission, which is controlled by Democrats, of trying to “game the system” by imposing a ban while the litigation is pending.
This is a game changer! The price of electricity will shoot up due to the cost of gas for power plants. All part of the plan to destroy America. Create such a desperate situation that we will accept a dictatorship.
There isnt real longterm data (in this area) yet showing negativity. Diff a power grab for short term gains.
The earth gives us everything we need to sustain life. Why build artificially (costly like electric cars) and not frack, get oil and coal. Just invest in newer technologies for refinement. Lead the way globally. Not giving our money globally trying to push beliefs on others. They gladly take a hand out then flip us the bird while laughing.
America FIRST