The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) issued draft natural gas regulations on Nov. 30. They have set Public Hearings in 2 locations – Waymart PA on Jan. 23 and Philadelphia on Jan. 25, and added, after public cries for more public input, a hearing on Feb. 22 and a “moderated” telephone hearing on March 6. The public comment period has been expanded to March 30, 5:00 pm.

Even if you didn’t register before Dec. 31, you can still sign up to attend and may still be able to speak at the January Hearings. Registration is open now for the other 2 sessions (see below). For the January Hearings, people can now register at the door of each Hearing or ahead of time on line, but you’ll get in only if the room is not already full. So please register now! Another change DRBC made is that if speaking slots are still open during the Hearing, people may be able to speak even though they weren’t pre-assigned a slot. For more details go to DRBC: http://www.nj.gov/drbc/meetings/proposed/notice_hydraulic-fracturing.html

When you get a request from DRBC for a speaker slot, be certain to respond to secure your 2 to 3 minutes (Yes, there really is second sign up step!)

Watch our webinars to learn what the draft rules say and the proposed ban could mean.
November Webinar (11/20): Reaching out to Municipalities and Elected Officials to Support the Delaware River Watershed Frack Ban
https://youtu.be/yoH5teDmbeQ
Webinar 1 (1/4): The Proposed Frack Ban and Regulations
https://youtu.be/pbqiL1WB9Dc
Webinar 2 (1/11): Water Extraction and Export
https://youtu.be/NDhxkrwz4gc
Webinar 3: (1/18): Frack Wastewater Import and Discharge
https://youtu.be/X5XkdxTWnGs

We are providing you with a comprehensive list of talking points on the proposed ban and regulations here: http://bit.ly/2Dhh0KB
You may use this information to help develop your testimony and written comments.

Please register on line immediately to testify at the links shown below, there is still room at every Hearing:

The Hearings:
• Feb. 22, 2018, 3 p.m. to as late as 7 p.m. at the Lisa Scheller-Wayne Woodman Community Services Center, Lehigh Carbon Community College, 4525 Education Park Dr., in Schnecksville, Pa. Register in advance to attend at http://bit.ly/2qI1tBC or register onsite.

• March 6, 2018, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The commission will host a moderated public hearing by telephone. Members of the public are encouraged to listen by calling 1-866-831-8713 and asking the operator to connect them to the DRBC call.Those wishing to address the commission at this hearing can register for an opportunity to speak at http://bit.ly/2pdqxQ9.

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Watch this event for more announcements.

We are demanding a substantial expansion of the public input process, which is very restrictive in both the written submissions and the Hearing availability and unjustly limits public access on this critical issue. See letter we submitted, signed by 109 organizations, which has led to some comment and hearing expansion, but we still want more: http://bit.ly/2CWjCk8 and some Talking Points about the unfair process here: http://bit.ly/2kZcUlT

The draft regulations propose a ban on high volume hydraulic fracturing throughout the Delaware River Basin but also would allow the discharge of frack wastewater in the Watershed and the export of water out of the basin for fracking elsewhere. See the draft rules here: http://bit.ly/2nQSxbZ

We are demanding a complete ban on gas drilling, fracking, and all of its related activities throughout the Delaware River Watershed. It makes no sense to ban fracking but allow the discharge of frack wastewater and allow the depletion of the Watershed’s water for fracking.

We are providing you with a comprehensive list of talking points on the proposed ban and regulations here: http://bit.ly/2Dhh0KB