NJBIZ

NJBIZ NJBIZ
  • LOG IN
  • My Account
    • Manage Your Print or Online Subscription
    • Manage Your Email Subscription
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
    • Print, Digital & Data Subscriptions
    • 8 Weeks Free Trial Subscription
    • Sign Up For Daily And Other Newsletters
  • Events
  • Latest Headlines
  • Digital Editions
  • Vanguard Series
  • Executive Moves
  • Pic Page
  • Power 100
    • 2018 Power 100
    • 2017 Power 100
    • 2016 Power 100
    • 2015 Power 100
    • 2014 Power 100
  • Lists
    • Lists and Directories
    • Complete a Survey
  • Login
  • Subscribe
    • Print, Digital & Data Subscriptions
    • 8 Weeks Free Trial Subscription
    • Sign Up For Daily And Other Newsletters
  • My Account
    • Manage Your Print or Online Subscription
    • Manage Your Email Subscription
  • Contact US
  • Advertise
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Food & Hospitality
  • Government
  • Health Care
  • Law
  • Manufacturing
  • Money
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Technology
  • Transportation
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Food & Hospitality
  • Government
  • Health Care
  • Law
  • Manufacturing
  • Money
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Technology
  • Transportation
Print

Murphy says he wants total ban on fracking in Delaware River Basin

By: Daniel J. Munoz
January 30, 2019 2:33 pm

Gov. Phil Murphy gave his full support for a hard ban on any fracking and fracking waste in the Delaware Water Basin, a move which drew widespread praise Wednesday afternoon from environmental groups.

Murphy, in a Jan. 28 letter to Steven Tambini, executive director of the Delaware River Basin Commission, said the total ban would protect the drinking water of 13.3 million residents in the surrounding region which includes Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“Fracking poses risks to the Delaware River Basin that New Jersey cannot accept,” Murphy said in a statement accompanying the letter. “The chemicals present in fracking wastewater are still unknown and we must take caution to protect the recreational, ecological, and water resources for the millions of residents and businesses who rely on a clean Delaware River Basin.

Formally called hydraulic fracking, the controversial process involves deploying a liquid deep underground to crack open rocks that contain oil and natural gas. The liquid deploy contains sand, water and chemical components such as gels.

Its use has fallen under criticism from environmentalists because of environmental effects, groundwater contamination, public health concerns and insufficient hazardous waste disposal.

The letter was also sent to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Pennsylvania Gov.Tom Wolf and Delaware Gov. John Carney, who are all commissioners, as well as Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Milhorn, the federal representative.

Murphy said he wants the ban to include the treatment and discharge of fracking in the basin.

In February 2018, Murphy threw his support behind a ban on just fracking, which advocates such as Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey, said was not enough because the proposal still allowed for the discharge of waste into the basin.

“He’s clearly supporting an outright ban on fracking and fracking waste, and the hope is that this…can turn the tide for New Jersey and the other member-states,” O’Malley said Wednesday.

“If you allow fracking waste to be discharged in Pennsylvania, that’s going to end up in the Delaware watershed and ultimately in our drinking water” O’Malley said.

Jeff Tittel, director of the environmental advocacy group the New Jersey Sierra Club, called Murphy’s Wednesday announcement “an important step forward.”

“This is great news for the Delaware River in protecting our precious water supplies,” Tittel said. “Coming out in favor of a complete ban on fracking in… is a real step forward. Now that it’s being addressed, we need to help push the other governors to go along with it.”

Meanwhile, lawmakers are considering legislation, Senate Bill 678, which would ban fracking and any of the ensuing waste in the entire state.

The state Senate approved S678 in a 31-5 vote at their Oct. 29, 2018 session. The bill was referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on Nov. 26, 2018 but has not moved anywhere since then.

2:33 pm Wed, January 30, 2019 NJBIZ
Jessica Perry
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Email (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Daniel J. Munoz
follow DanielMunoz100
Daniel Munoz covers politics and state government for NJBIZ. You can contact him at dmunoz@njbiz.com.

NJBIZ Business Events

Cybersecurity Panel Discussion

Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Cybersecurity Panel Discussion

Best 50 Women in Business

Monday, March 25, 2019
Best 50 Women in Business

Substance Abuse in the Workplace Panel Discussion

Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Substance Abuse in the Workplace Panel Discussion

NJ Digi-Tech Innovators Awards - The Inaugural Class of 2019

Tuesday, April 16, 2019
NJ Digi-Tech Innovators Awards                 - The Inaugural Class of 2019
View All

  • Latest News
  • Most Read
  • New bill helps moms address maternal and infant mortality rates
    New bill helps moms address maternal and infant mortality rates
  • And the Oscar goes to … NJ sportsbooks accepting bets for Academy Awards
    And the Oscar goes to … NJ sportsbooks accepting bets for Academy Awards
  • Sponsored Content

    Interoperability: The Revolutionary Way to Improved Health Care
    Interoperability: The Revolutionary Way to Improved Health Care
  • Portal North Bridge construction project reaches milestone
    Portal North Bridge construction project reaches milestone

More Latest Headlines

  1. Fanwood luxury dog resort to open six new locations
  2. Queen Latifah comes home to redevelop neighborhood in Newark
  3. Portal North Bridge construction project reaches milestone
  4. Sweeney: Don’t expect recreational cannabis before January 2020
  5. NKF awarded 18-story Newark office tower sale

Subscriber Content

February 18, 2019

February 18, 2019 Edition of NJBIZ

More from This Week's Issue

NJBIZ.Com

  • Latest Headlines
  • NJBIZ In Print
  • Subscribe To Print
  • Digital Editions
  • Events

Advertising With NJBIZ

  • Media Kit
  • Advertise in Print
  • Advertise Online
  • Event Sponsorships
  • Production Information

Customer Service

  • Contact NJBIZ
  • Help & FAQ
  • About NJBIZ
  • NJBIZ Staff
  • Directions
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Resources

  • Archive Search
  • Business Lists

Services

  • Employee Engagement Surveys

Subscribe to NJBIZ

Follow Us

© 2019 BridgeTower Media. All information on this site is copyrighted by BridgeTower Media.
All images are the sole property of BridgeTower Media and no rights are granted for any use without the express written consent of BridgeTower Media.