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Deadline for Comments Regarding the DRBC Proposed Fracking Regulations

***The official DRBC public comment portal is still OPEN and will be accepting submissions until 5:00pm, March 30th, 2018. Our comment platforms (Watershed Wednesdays, 8 Weeks to a Ban) are now closed for processing. However, you may still visit these links to obtain background information to help you write your comments. Then, you may submit your comments using the official DRBC public comment portal.***

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) issued draft natural gas regulations on Nov. 30. They proposed a ban on fracking but, illogically, also issued draft regulations that would allow the toxic wastewater produced by fracking to be stored, processed, and discharged in the Delaware River Watershed and allow water to be exported from the Basin for fracking elsewhere. It is critical that we make it clear that we want to BAN IT ALL – ban fracking throughout the Watershed, ban frack wastewater from being dumped here, and ban Delaware River Watershed water from being exported to fuel fracking elsewhere.

We need to make our case to the DRBC in support of a COMPLETE fracking ban and in opposition to their draft gas regulations that would allow the toxic and radioactive wastewater produced by fracking to be stored, processed, and discharged in the Delaware River Watershed and allow water to be exported from the Basin to fuel fracking elsewhere.

These comments must be considered by the DRBC and the Commissioners - the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware - who will eventually vote on the frack ban. Please seize the moment with us to prevent the Delaware River watershed from being fracked!

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT COMMENTS TO THE DRBC USING THEIR OFFICIAL COMMENTING PORTAL
 


RESOURCES AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION TO HELP YOU WRITE YOUR COMMENTS:

Go here for some suggested Talking Points about their proposed ban on high-volume hydraulic fracturing throughout the Delaware River Basin and the draft fracking regulations.

To inform the public on this monumental decision to ban fracking, we've launched an 8 week campaign starting in February covering various subtopics related to fracking, and provided sample letters that you can use to send to the DRBC. To see all the weekly alerts go here:
Week 1: http://bit.ly/2oB7wnr
Week 2: http://bit.ly/2HQi4YL
Week 3: http://bit.ly/2FsP87f
Week 4: http://bit.ly/2Hb4Wfj
Week 5: http://bit.ly/2phxH2H
Week 6: http://bit.ly/2G0CpJb
Week 7: http://bit.ly/2Gdci6e

Video Webinars
The Fracking Ban (Completed, recording available here)
Water Extraction and Export (Completed, recording available here)
Frack Waste Processing and Discharge (Completed, recording available here)

 


The following is from DRBC’s website:

Written Comments:

  • REVISED! Written comments will be accepted through 5 p.m. on March 30, 2018 (please note that this is an extension from the previously announced date);
  • Written comments should be submitted - along with any attachments - through the Commission’s online comments webpage at http://dockets.drbc.commentinput.com/;
  • All attachments submitted with written comments should be provided in searchable formats, preferably in .pdf searchable text. Notably, a "picture scan" of a document may not result in searchable text;
  • Nondigitized voluminous materials such as books, journals or collected letters/petitions will not be accepted. Digital submissions of these, as well as articles and websites must be accompanied by a statement containing citations to the specific findings or conclusions the commenter wishes to reference. Email, fax, postal or hand delivery are not acceptable means of submitting materials; and
  • Requests for exceptions to submitting comments via the web-based system may be addressed to: Commission Secretary, DRBC, P.O. Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628

Written comments will receive the same consideration as oral comments.
 

Substance of Comments:
The Commission expressly seeks comment on the effects the proposed rules may have within the basin on: water availability, the control and abatement of water pollution, economic development, the conservation and protection of drinking water supplies, the conservation and protection of aquatic life, the conservation and protection of water quality in Special Protection Waters, and the protection, maintenance, and improvement of water quantity and quality basinwide. Comment is also requested on whether use of base fluids other than water for HVHF is practical within the Basin and if so, how it should be addressed in these rules, and on any alternatives to the proposed rules that the commenters would like the Commission to consider, as well as on draft guidance published simultaneously with the rules for determining background concentrations of certain pollutants. The Commission welcomes and will consider any other comments that concern the potential effects of the draft rules on the conservation, utilization, development, management, and control of the water and related resources of the Delaware River Basin. Comments on matters not within this scope may not be considered.

The public is encouraged to download and read the Complete Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Public Hearing (pdf 514 KB) for more information.

Date: 
Thursday, March 29, 2018 - 12:00 AM to Friday, March 30, 2018 - 05:00 PM