Delaware River frack ban moves forward

A proposed ban on hydrofracking in the Delaware River basin moved forward on Wednesday, when its managing agency agreed to prepare regulations to address natural gas development.
The revised draft regulations will be published by Nov. 30. The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) will then invite public comment.
The resolution to revise the regulations passed by a of 2-3 vote among commission members. Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania said yes, the federal government said no, and New Jersey abstained.
The vote was procedural and begins a new phase in the rulemaking process. The commissioners did not adopt any regulations at their Sept. 13 meeting.
The revised draft rules will include prohibitions on the production of natural gas using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, better known as "fracking." They will also provide for the safe storage, treatment, disposal, and discharge of hydraulic fracturing-related wastewater and regulate inter-basin transfers of water and wastewater for natural gas development wherever these activities are permitted.
There will one or more hearings and opportunity for written comment. The commission will take no action until after public comment period. The commissioners will then consider revisions based on the comments received.
Public hearing announcements and instructions for submitting written comment will be included in the notice of proposed rulemaking, to be published by Nov. 30. The commission’s web site (drbc.net) and Twitter account (@DRBC1961) will give regular updates.
Written or oral comments received before the comment period opens will not be included in the record.
Wednesday's business meeting, open to the public, was held at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pa. 
The Delaware River Basin Commission is a federal and interstate government agency responsible for managing water resources in the 13,539-square-mile basin without regard to political boundaries. The five commission members are the governors of the basin states — Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania — and the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Atlantic Division, who represents the federal government.
An updated set of frequently asked questions (FAQs), along with additional background information, can be viewed at nj.gov/drbc/programs/natural.
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