The Delaware River Basin Commission on Friday postponed a meeting set for Monday to consider draft rules for natural-gas wells developed using a controversial drilling process.
On Thursday, Gov. Jack Markell told the commission Delaware would cast a vote against the proposals. Commission officials said the delay was intended to give the five-member panel more time to consider the issue.
The rules need three votes to pass, though the commission had been hoping for unanimous support. Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York and the Army Corps of Engineers direct the commission, formed to oversee water storage, use and conservation within the Delaware River watershed.
Pressure has been growing for months to allow the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to develop natural-gas wells across the northern and northwestern tier of the basin.
TVNL Comment: Vital action: Pres. Obama's vote will be represented by the Army Corps of Engineers. Call them and Governors of PA and NJ. Three votes are needed to stop this horror.