Senate Environment Release DRBC Full Fracking Ban Resolution

The Senate Energy and Environment passed SCR-150(Bateman/Greenstein). The bill urges Governor to block proposed rule permitting storage, treatment, disposal, and discharge of wastewater generated from hydraulic fracturing in Delaware River Basin. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:

“We need a complete ban of fracking activities by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), including not allowing dumping fracking waste or taking water for fracking activities elsewhere. Having a partial ban that actually allows the dumping of fracking waste still puts the drinking water and environment of the Basin at risk.

“Dumping fracking wastewater is dangerous because it contains over 600 different toxic chemicals, many of them carcinogenic. This could lead to pollution and contaminated drinking water. We need a fracking ban in the entire basin because even if New Jersey has a ban, fracking waste could still be dumped into the Basin.

“It is important for the state to go on record asking for a full ban on fracking and dumping of fracking waste. Governor Murphy came out a year ago for a full ban while he was running for Governor. When he first came into office, he sent a letter to the DRBC calling for a full ban but since that time his staff has vacillated. This resolution should send a message to Governor Murphy to stand strong against fracking and dumping of fracking waste in the Basin,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club