The Delaware River Basin Commission has finally issued its long-awaited draft regulations for the development of gas drilling within the river's watershed. To read the regs, which will be subject to public comment from now until March, see below:
Draft DRBC Natural Gas Development Regulations
Steve Israel at the Times Herald-Record writes today that the gist of the rules is pro-drilling:
The draft regulations, which will be formally released Thursday morning, disappointed environmentalists, who called it "a black day for the Delaware." They pleased drilling proponents, who said, "we're moving the process forward."
The regulations — which cover much of Sullivan County — won't require a cumulative impact study of the wells before they're drilled, according to two people from each side of the drilling debate who were at Monday's Delaware River Basin Commission meeting. Such a study, recommended by politicians from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to Rep. Maurice Hinchey, could delay gas drilling for years.
Update: The DEP responds. Press release below:
