The Delaware River Basin Commission has announced that the draft natural gas regulations scheduled to be released in mid-October are not ready for public distribution.
DRBC spokesman Clarke Rupert said the commissioners are working with staff to continue refining the draft regulations to ensure protection of basin waters while minimizing regulatory duplication.
The draft regulations will likely be published in November or December and will be accompanied by a public rulemaking process. This process will entail two public hearings and a written comment period, Rupert said.
The Catskill Riverkeeper issued a statement opposing the DRBC's gas drilling and hydrofracking regulations.
"These regulations are being issued in spite of calls from federal officials, federal agencies and environmental groups that the Commission wait for the results of the EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study, which is now being conducted and a Cumulative Impact Study proposed by Rep. Maurice Hinchey whose funding is currently being approved by Congress," the Catskill Riverkeeper's media release said.
Catskill Riverkeeper spokesman Wes Gillingham said there are concerns about the DRBC's approval of test wells in the river basin.
"It makes absolutely no sense to rush these regulations through," Gillingham said. "The DRBC has the task of protecting the Delaware River. It is one of the healthiest ecosystems in the United States."
Gillingham said the DRBC should be protecting the water, not worrying about the economic benefits of gas drilling.
Rupert said the DRBC is developing regulations because the EPA's initial study results aren't expected until 2012, and Hinchey is still in the process of getting funding and getting over legislative hurdles before his study can begin.
"There is no guarantee that Hinchey's endeavor will even happen," Rupert said. "We have been in touch with Hinchey and we hope he will be successful, but it will still be a length of time before anything happens."
Rupert said the DRBC's committee has been continuing to develop regulations that can be adapted depending on what comes out of the other studies.
"When information becomes available, we will have an opportunity to make appropriate changes in the regulations," Rupert said.
The Catskill Mountainkeeper said in the release: "If the DRBC does issue these regulations, Catskill Mountainkeeper will be looking at legal action on behalf of all Catskill region residents to have them nullified. This will be an additional and substantial expense on top of all the other expenses Mountainkeeper is making to continue to lead the fight against gas drilling in our state and region."
Patricia Breakey can be reached at 865-5175 or at patriciabreakey@yahoo.com
Local News
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