Delaware River Basin Commission Protects Parks From Fracking

Today, the Delaware Basin River Commission voted to ban fracking in the Delaware River Basin. This decision, years in the making, will protect the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, a unit of the National Park Service, from the harmful, poisonous impacts of fracked water.

The Delaware Basin River Commissioners include Governor John Carney of Delaware, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey, and Brigadier General Thomas J. Tickner of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. All governors voted “aye,” to these new regulations banning fracking, with Brigadier General Tickner abstaining.

The National Parks Conservation has sought to protect the Delaware River Basin and the national rivers that lie within it from fracking since as early as 2011.

Statement of Halle Van der Gaag, Senior Manager for Pennsylvania and Delaware Programs for the National Parks Conservation Association:

“Today’s ban on fracking is a victory for local community health, our national parks, and the 15 million people who depend on the Delaware River for clean drinking water, swimming, boating and fishing. The number of visitors at parks along the Delaware River, notably at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, has skyrocketed as the pandemic stretches on. More people are getting outside at our parks, and they deserve safe access and clean water.

“This river is more than a tourist destination; it’s the economic lifeblood for many surrounding communities and local businesses. In 2020, Delaware Water Gap and the Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River welcomed more than 4 million visitors, whose spending in the area generated nearly $130 million in economic activity. It is imperative that we protect our parks, our resources, and the people who love and depend on them from the devastating environmental impacts of fracking.

“For years, the National Parks Conservation Association has opposed fracking in the Delaware River basin. It’s heartening to see leaders in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Delaware join forces to preserve this important watershed.”

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its nearly 1.4 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.