Scientists: Delaware River Faces Threats
Binghamton NY PressConnects.com
10 March 2011
Threats ranging from global warming to natural gas drilling could
threaten the water quality in the Delaware River, scientists and
environmental advocates said Thursday.
The state of the river got in-depth attention Thursday at a forum held
by the federal Environmental Protection Agency with meetings at six
locations in all four states along the river.
Many of the presentations focused on the dangers of climate change,
which could cause the salt line to shift upriver and threaten drinking
water supplies in Philadelphia or bring additional water-borne diseases
to the region.
Delaware River Basin Commission executive director Carol Collier called
drilling for natural gas "the huge gorilla" among things that could
harm the river. The concern is that chemicals used to extract gas from
deep underground in a process called hydraulic fracturing, or
"fracking," could contaminate the drinking water supply.
A massive underground rock formation known as the Marcellus Shale,
which stretches from Tennessee to New York and contains natural gas, is
under about one-third of the land in the Delaware basin. It’s also
under all the headwaters of the most pristine parts of the river.
There, the commission, which monitors water quality in area around the
river, is trying to maintain current water quality.
Collier’s agency is considering rules on how to regulate drilling in
areas near the Delaware. Collier said Thursday that September is the
earliest commissioners would vote on proposed regulations.
Drilling companies say their process is safe. They and many northeast
Pennsylvania landowners also say the proposed regulations would be
stifling for business in an area that could use a boost.
Environmental groups worry the regulations would be too permissive.
The public can comment on the proposed regulations until April 15.
Environmentalists have been pushing the DRBC to wait until there’s a
full EPA study on the impacts of fracking in the region before issuing
rules.
Collier said that decision will be made by her commission, which
includes the governors of New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
Delaware and a federal representative. But, she said, the final EPA
report isn’t expected to be released for another three years.