Fracking on its way to New Jersey, New York and Delaware?

[emcguffie]

With very little public attention, and no public discussion that I have been aware of, there is going to be a vote in Trenton, NJ on Monday on whether to allow fracking in the Delaware River Basin. Four states would be affected: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The body that will be voting is the Delaware River Basin Commission. Fracking is already taking place in Pennsylvania. So I suppose that means their approval is understood. A rally is planned for Monday.

If two states approve and two decline, the Obama administration will break the tie.

Of course I'm going to call Gov. Christie and the White House. But I am astonished that they are seriously considering fracking in this area, and that I hadn't heard peep about it. Of course, I no longer watch much news or read the newspaper, so it could be my fault entirely.

I've lost the piece of paper she gave me. I found this link, which provides information on getting a bus ride to the rally, and asks for help from volunteers:

http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/index.sjs?distributed_event_KEY=647

Anyone from those states that is interested, please call your governor's office and the White House.

[RC]

1. Fracking is another symptom of Peak Oil. The coming oil shortage.

[HappyMe]

2. I have signed petitions

and contacted the governor here in NY.
There are plenty of No Fracking signs along the Hudson and up in the Catskills.

[emcguffie]

10. I have been kind of hoping I could count on New Yorkers to help prevent this.

Thanks for the info.

[KittyWampus]

17. as a NY'er, I'm sad to say Gov Cuomo most likely will be fully on board with fracking.

[grntuscarora]

22. In a Democracy Now interview

with Josh Fox http://www.democracynow.org/2011/11/11/white_house_could_cast_decisive_vote
Fox says at about 24:40 into the interview that NY has already announced a "no" vote. I sure hope that the info is correct!

[emcguffie]

24. Christie's office told me that Cuomo has already allowed fracking in NY.

That phone call was kind of crazy, and I just posted an update about this phone call and the conflict of interest, but can't seem to find where that post showed up anywhere other than in My Posts.

I don't want to write that all again.

I'm not very good at this stuff.

[grntuscarora]

26. Allowed it, yes,

but in the river basin?? I thought that area has been under a drilling moratorium.
I would really like to read your phone call post. Maybe the mods can help you locate it?

[emcguffie]

28. I found it.

I think this is it.

(I must get better at this posting business, if I want to do it!)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2321111

So, I suppose it is quite possible Cuomo will vote against it in the Delaware River Basin. But the guy in Christie's office seemed to be trying to put the blame on them. Poor little old CHris Christie is just one governor, one of five votes, and he extended the moratorium!

The Save the Delaware folks seem to be recommeding we ask for Christie to sell his stock or to recuse himself. I think we should ask him to vote against the regs, no matter what. What will happen if they pass the regs? The moratorium will end eventually, won't it? Yes, next August.

So I may be confused about the details, but I couldn't get them clarified by Christie's office.

[KittyWampus]

30. Cuomo is such a mixed bag.

[enough]

3. This is a major story on a par with Keystone XL. And a VERY short timeline till the decision.

20,000 wells about to be permitted. It's amazing how little attention it's been getting.

Another Link for information:

http://protectingourwaters.wordpress.com/

[emcguffie]

14. Turns out Chris Christie profits from recycling fracking wastewater!

I was doing a little poking around, and found this (after I called his office, alas). Apparently Chris Christie has invested money in a company that recycles fracking wastewater.

from

http://www.facebook.com/notes/julie-ann-edgar/call-nj-governor-chris-christies-office-today-instructions-here/10150899300945436

Call NJ Governor Chris Christie's office TODAY, instructions HERE
by Julie Ann Edgar on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 3:39pm

Fifteen Days of Action to Save the Delaware
http://savethedelaware.wordpress.com/
....

It has recently been brought to light by the sharp research of the New Jersey Sierra Club ( http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/ ) --and THANKS to them~ GREAT WORK!!--that Governor Christie is invested in a company that recycles fracking wastewater. This information was released on 24 October 2011 through NPR, and you can read the complete report at this link: http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2011/10/24/nj-governor-has-interest-in-fracking-technology/
....

This article states that NJ Governor Christie profited $28,000 from his ownership of stock in this particular company, according to his 2010 tax return. Now this is not millions of dollars, but it is a modest income for one person, from a single investment. This revelation exposes a significant conflict of interest in two important respects. First of all, it creates a doubt about his motivation to reject a complete ban passed overwhelmingly this past summer by both the NJ State Assembly, as well as the NJ Senate. See the full report on these votes here: http://www.desmogblog.com/new-jersey-senate-passes-fracking-ban

Presumably the Assembly and the Senate represent the will of the citizens, but rather than sign the bill into law, Governor Christie vetoed the ban and instead put in place a one year moratorium. It now appears that one possible reason that he did so was due to his vested financial interest. If he is invested in a company which recycles fracking wastewater, it would seem that when the fracking business does well, that the Governor will also do well with his investment.

.....

(much more)

[Marrah_G]

4. That is scary- Have you seen the documentary "Fracking"

I know Netflix has it

[HappyMe]

6. Everybody needs to see it. nt

[emcguffie]

11. No, but I do have Net flix. I'm kind of scared to watch it.

I already have a chronic illness, and I'm not physically active at all, but I think I'll knock on my neighbor's door.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

21. I can't find this on Netflix

Is there another name for it? I'd like to view it.

[emcguffie]

25. I can't look for it yet.

I'm trying to find my other post (!!!) with the story of my second phone call, which was kind of funny...

I don't know where it went.

[ensho]

5. this has to be stopped - 20,000 drilling = 20,000 explosions

20,000 holes injected with toxins

[grntuscarora]

7. Nonviolence Training in Connection

with the 11/21 meeting is being offered on Sunday in Trenton and NYC: http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/about/event.aspx?Id=160

I grew up near this historic river. Learned to fish and canoe there and camped by the Delaware River in the summer. I want the gas industry to get a loud, resounding NO to river basin fracking. And I hope it will be the first in a long line of NOs to fracking.
enough is enough.

[emcguffie]

12. Since you are knowledgeable about this --

-- do you think the opposition is informed and developed enough to stop it?

[grntuscarora]

13. Only learned about the 11/21 DRBC meeting

myself late last week, so I'm probably pulling my info off the same sources that you are. But I remember reading on one site that NY has already announced it will vote against the new regs, PA and NJ will likely vote for them, and DE could go either way. WH could wind up breaking a tie. But truthfully, I don't know.
The whole thing is so infuriating.

[emcguffie]

15. I just added a post upstream.

Apparently Christie profits from recycling fracking wastewater.

Unbelievable!

The links are posted up there.

I don't know what to do with the information, though.

It seems like that in itself should be newsworthy.

[aquart]

8. Damn their greedy murderous souls to Hell.

I really need Hell to step up here.

[lonestarnot]

9. Fucking A. You're not a kidderin'!

[redqueen]

16. This is frightening.

Very.

[emcguffie]

18. It turns out Chris Christie profits from recycling fracking wastewater.

I think that should be worth some attention from our friends the free press, don't you?

I just posted a separate post with that in the headline.

I used to do media outreach, but I'm not quite organized to do it anymore....

[redqueen]

19. Already saw the link, and shared both that

and the one in the OP.

Thanks for posting this stuff. :yourock:

[emcguffie]

20. Thanks for replying. Read my other self-kick, would you?

I hope I can find someone with media connections, or perhaps make a few myself.

[emcguffie]

23. I posted an update, but can't find it.

No one has replied to it.

The update includes my phone call to Christie's office, about his conflict of interest.

Has anyone seen it?

[starroute]

27. OWS has a march planned

This is from their Facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=222872847782350

Time
Friday, November 18 · 8:00am - 11:00am
Location
Zuccotti Park

We are no longer allowed to camp in Zuccotti Park?

FINE!

We will take our movement to the road Friday the 18th at 8am, and show our support for our Anti-Fracking friends in Trenton by arriving by Monday, November 21st at 8am.

We will combine with them and other protest movements from up and down the coast for one MASSIVE demonstration to show the world that WE WILL NOT LET THE GREED OF THE 1% DESTROY OUR WATER SUPPLY

We will seize the media's attention by marching 15 miles a day for 3 days, to stop one of the most present and dangerous environmental threats this century has seen.

One of the comments says, "There are buses all over the place heading down to Trenton for this reason. Pick a bus closest to you! 20$ suggested donation for round trip. :) C U there!"

And it links to this page:

http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/index.sjs?distributed_event_KEY=647

On Monday November 21, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) is voting on proposed regulations that would allow fracking in the Delaware River Basin. Food & Water Watch, along with our allies, are hosting a rally outside of the meeting in order to demonstrate our power against fracking.

Need transportation to the rally? Search below to find a bus, van or carpool near you.

[emcguffie]

29. That is FABLOUS! What great news!

I still think we should call attention to Christie's financial conflict of interest.

He made $28,000 in 2010 from fracking, according to NPR.