Frack wars reach other side of the Delaware

New Jersey environmentalists are urging Governor Christie to support a ban on fracking in the Delaware River Basin.

Fracking is a process drillers use to extract natural gas by injecting water and chemicals into underground rock formations to crack the rocks and allow the gas to flow into wells.

Environmental groups say proposed rules to regulate drilling do not adequately protect the region’s water supply.

Jim Walsh with the group Food and Water Watch delivered petitions signed by a thousand people to Governor Christie’s office.

“The Delaware River is one of the nation’s and our region’s most precious natural resources and needs to be protected,” said Walsh.  “What’s known and unknown about fracking causes enough concerns for us to believe that the only way to make sure our drinking water is protected is for a hold to be put on these regs.”

Environmentalists want the Delaware River Basin Commission to maintain a moratorium on the drilling until the E.P.A. completes a study on fracking’s environmental impact.