TRR photo by Sandy Long Clarke Rupert, Delaware River Basin Commission communications manager, discusses the public comment process for the agency’s Draft Natural Gas Development Regulations at the Upper Delaware Council meeting on February 3.

Proposed regs provoke responses

By SANDY LONG

NARROWSBURG, NY—Impassioned outbursts are fairly frequent occurrences during regional discussions of natural gas exploration in the Upper Delaware region these days. Upper Delaware Council (UDC) meetings are no exception and the release of the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) Draft Natural Gas Development Regulations has prompted a flurry of concerns related to the process for making public comment on the new regs.

Many say the March 16 deadline is too short. Others are unhappy that email comments will not be accepted. Most are scrambling to draft their responses to the 83-page document developed between DRBC staff and commissioners, and described by DRBC communications manager Clarke Rupert as “an iterative process.”

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Sullivan County cuts workers

Next year could be worse

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY—“When we turn on the lights on January 1, 2012, we’ll be close to $11.5 million in the hole; so while we sit here and struggle with $2 million today, you can multiply that by five, and that does not take into account health insurance increases, pension increases, or cuts in funding from Albany. So as difficult and wrenching as this is, the task has just begun. The rhetoric needs to be toned down.”

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Opposition to sprinkler law

Officials join chorus for repeal

By TOM KANE

HAWLEY, PA—The unpopular new law imposing strict regulations on the inclusion of sprinkler systems in all new Pennsylvania one-family and two-family homes is being widely opposed by builders, home owners and local officials, which is not news.

What is news is that state elected officials are now joining the chorus of opponents.

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Other stories in this issue:

• Correction
• Groups file lawsuit against DRBC
• Gas at a glance
• Hinchey praises Job Corps
• Library board accepts new library design
• The ghost of NYRI
• Another week, another storm

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S