DRBC director addresses drilling

By SANDY LONG

NARROWSBURG, NY — “DRBC is in the game,” concluded Carol Collier, executive director of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), following her account of recent actions taken by the DRBC related to gas and oil speculation in the Upper Delaware region. The topic brought on considerable discussion during the Upper Delaware Council’s meeting on August 7.

“The DRBC is going to take a regulatory role,” said Collier, who then cited the example taking place in Wayne County, where Stone Energy Corporation began drilling the Louis Matousek property in Clinton Township earlier this year. After advising the company that they needed to come in for a review of the project and receiving no response, the DRBC sent a letter of compliance on August 6. “Fines are running,” said Collier.

According to Collier, the DRBC is focusing on issues of water withdrawal, transportation of water to drill sites, what happens to the water while on the site and what is done with it afterward. “It’s important to have the gas, but let’s do it as best we can,” she added.

In discussing the fracking process, Collier noted the importance of protecting aquifers. “Forty percent of the water that comes back out will have chemicals, brine and sand in it,” she said. “DEP [the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection] has already sent letters to wastewater plants concerning the impact of chemicals on the treatment process. If the water has to be sent elsewhere for treatment, we could lose millions of gallons.”

Collier added that Pennsylvania recently strengthened its regulations with a two-page addendum to current drilling regulations.

In response to recent announcements that New York City wants its water supply protected from drilling impacts within a one-mile zone of its upstate reservoir system, Fred Peckham, alternate representative for the Town of Hancock, NY, charged, “There’s a little bit of hysteria in this.” Peckham added that property owners affected by such restrictions should be compensated for their mineral rights.

Larry Richardson, representative for the Town of Cochecton, noted that in addition to requiring the installation of gas compressor stations, there will be a need for facilities that treat the gas before it can be released into the pipelines.

Richardson asked if the DRBC has any regulatory authority over the open storage pits used at some drilling sites and was told that PADEP and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation are currently involved in their regulation. “Pennsylvania has higher engineering standards; New York is more lax. We may need to look at that,” said Collier.

In addition, Collier said that the DRBC is asking whether protection for specific areas needs to be considered. “For example, are there areas up here that should be off-limits to drilling, that are too sensitive?” she asked.

On a lighter note, the UDC served cake in celebration of Damascus Township’s recent decision to join the council. The town’s representative, Jeff Dexter, was warmly welcomed.

The UDC meets on the first Thursday of the month at 211 Bridge Street in Narrowsburg. Meetings are open to the public.

For more information visit www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or call 845/252-3022.