Riverkeeper urges DRBC to address gas pipelines

Posted 8/21/12

The Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company is preparing to slash and cut another path across the communities, forests, streams and wetlands of the Upper Delaware River, and our national and state agencies …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Riverkeeper urges DRBC to address gas pipelines

Posted

The Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company is preparing to slash and cut another path across the communities, forests, streams and wetlands of the Upper Delaware River, and our national and state agencies and the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) are all stepping aside to let it happen. Not only will this Northeast Upgrade Project (NEUP) by Tennessee Gas irreparably damage the natural areas and beautiful communities of the Upper Delaware River region—an irreplaceable source of drinking water, jobs, recreation, education, beauty and art—but it also will induce more fracking and drilling in Pennsylvania, bringing increased sickness, pollution and sadness to the communities harmed. Only the National Park Service has been willing to stand up to the pipeline company and defend the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA), and in so doing defend us all.

While there is no state or federal agency other than the National Park Service willing to stand up to defend our communities from the NEUP—there is clearly one agency that should—the DRBC. This agency is entrusted with protecting the Delaware River and its tributary streams to benefit all of our communities and all generations. They have the authority and power to review the NEUP as well as the 13 other pipelines being proposed to cut through our watershed. And yet, the DRBC is sitting silent on the issue of pipelines.

In September, the DRBC was served with a legal petition by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network urging them to exercise their jurisdiction over pipelines including the NEUP; and now 50 other community, religious and environmental organizations have signed that petition. If you think the DRBC should be reviewing these pipelines, then go to www.delawareriverkeeper.org and send a letter through the urgent action page, or contact your state and federal elected officials and tell them to write the DRBC to urge their action over pipelines.

Help to spread the word. Together we have protected our communities from the devastation of drilling; now we need to stand together against pipelines.

Maya K. van Rossum

The Delaware Riverkeeper

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here