For Immediate Release

January 8, 2018

(West Trenton, N.J.) -- The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) today announced that the period for written comment on proposed regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing activities in the basin has been extended from Feb. 28 to March 30, 2018. Two additional public hearings also have been scheduled in February and March.

"The commissioners believe the extended comment period and two additional hearings announced today in response to numerous requests will provide adequate opportunities for the public and government officials to study the proposed regulations and offer input to inform the commissioners’ decision-making process," said DRBC Executive Director Steve Tambini. "Those interested in commenting are encouraged to review the full text of the draft rules, related materials, and information on the public input procedures on the commission’s web site at www.drbc.net."

To supplement the four previously announced public hearings – two on Jan. 23 in Waymart, Pa. and two on Jan. 25 in Philadelphia – the commission is adding the following two hearings:

1. Feb. 22, 2018, 3 p.m. to as late as 7 p.m. at the Lisa Scheller-Wayne Woodman Community Services Center, Lehigh Carbon Community College, 4525 Education Park Dr., in Schnecksville, Pa. Register in advance to attend at http://bit.ly/2qI1tBC or register onsite. Persons who have registered to attend by 5 p.m. January 26, 2018 will be contacted by DRBC prior to the hearing date and provided with an early opportunity to request speaking time. Registrants may also sign up to speak at the hearing and will be heard if time allows. Elected government officials and their staff will have the opportunity to identify themselves when registering.
   
   
2. March 6, 2018, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The commission will host a moderated public hearing by telephone. Members of the public are encouraged to listen by calling 1-866-831-8713 and asking the operator to connect them to the DRBC call. Those wishing to address the commission at this hearing can register for an opportunity to speak at http://bit.ly/2pdqxQ9.

Seating capacity remains available at all four of the public hearings scheduled in January. Those who would like to attend are encouraged to register online through 5 p.m. on the day preceding each hearing. On-site registration for each hearing will also be available. Those who have not registered in advance are encouraged to check capacity through the online system before traveling to attend a hearing.

Written comments on the draft regulations, which will receive the same consideration as oral comments, will be accepted until 5 p.m. on March 30. Written comments and attachments should be submitted through the DRBC’s online comments webpage at http://dockets.drbc.commentinput.com/. Requests for exceptions to use of the online registration and written comment collection systems may be addressed to: Commission Secretary, DRBC, P.O. Box 7360, West Trenton, NJ 08628.

The DRBC is a federal/interstate government agency responsible for managing the water resources within the Delaware River Basin without regard to political boundaries. The five commission members are the governors of the basin states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) and the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Atlantic Division, who represents the federal government.

To learn more about the commission, please visit www.drbc.net or follow DRBC on Twitter at @DRBC1961.

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Contacts: Peter Eschbach, Peter.Eschbach@drbc.nj.gov, (609) 883-9500 ext. 208
Clarke Rupert, Clarke.Rupert@drbc.nj.gov, (609) 883-9500 ext. 260
Kate Schmidt, Kate.Schmidt@drbc.nj.gov, (609) 883-9500 ext. 205

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