Governor Murphy Calls for Full Fracking Ban in Delaware River Basin

Trenton, N.J. – In a letter sent to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Executive Director, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced he will vote in support of a permanent ban on fracking and its associated activities, including the treatment, discharge, storage and disposal of fracking waste in the Delaware River Basin. In order for a full ban to move forward, a majority of the five DRBC members, which includes governors of Delaware, New York, and Pennsylvania, as well as the Army Corp of Engineers—must also vote in support.

A statement follows from Kim Ong, Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):

“Governor Murphy has taken a courageous stand to defend the drinking water source for over 17 million Americans. A full ban will protect people’s health from toxic wastewater and preserve the region’s freshwater supplies, so the industry cannot drain them to frack in other parts of the country. We now look to the other governors represented on the Delaware River Basin Commission to follow New Jersey’s lead.”

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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.​