Better Path Coalition – Catskill Mountainkeeper – Clean Water Action – Damascus Citizens for Sustainability – Delaware Riverkeeper Network – Environment New Jersey – Food & Water Action – Sierra Club

NY, NJ and Delaware Governors Provide the 3 Votes Needed to Halt Progress on Dangerous, Unwanted LNG Export Terminal

Albany NY, Trenton NJ, Harrisburg PA, Dover DE and Washington DC — The lead advocates against all fracking related activities and infrastructure in the Delaware River Watershed issued the following joint statement today in response to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) virtual meeting decision this morning to: 1) delay a decision on whether or not to approve permits for the proposed controversial liquid natural gas (LNG) New Fortress Energy Gibbstown, NJ port so the Commissioners could further assess the voluminous record and take a “careful look” at complex issues involved; and 2) stay any construction there until final permit decisions are made by the DRBC Commissioners with a public vote.

The three votes needed for passage of the delay and stay were cast by the NY, NJ and Delaware representatives. Pennsylvania abstained and the Trump Administration voted against the delay and stay. In a storm of controversy, the public had weighed in with over 71,000 petition signatures to DRBC to stop the project.

“We applaud Governors Cuomo, Murphy and Carney and their Administrations today for hearing the public outcry and providing the majority necessary to ensure a thorough and fair review of this complex proposal. Practically daily new information reveals how dangerous, dirty and unwanted this plan is from the folks upstream where the fracking occurs and midstream exposed to the frack gas bomb trucks, trains and ships to downstream in Puerto Rico and Ireland whose authorities have recently come out against LNG imports. Just yesterday the European Court of Justice sided against New Fortress’ plans for their terminal in Shannon, Ireland.

“These delays will give the public the time they need to be heard and decision makers the time they need to make the right decision, deny these plans and help the Delaware River Basin, the US, Puerto Rico, Ireland and beyond protect our water, land, air, communities, and climate, and create a strong, fair, green economy. And we will not rest until that’s accomplished!”