The Delaware River Basin provides drinking water for 13 million people and is home to hundreds of species of fish and other animals. In a victory for all those who rely on this natural ecosystem, the governors of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York, who make up the Delaware River Basin Commission, have voted to ban fracking within the entire region.
The 13,539 square mile region is now protected by four states. The fight to prevent fracking in the region began in 2007 when gas companies began filling out permit applications to drill wells in the region. Activists rallied to campaign against the permits which would damage the beautiful river, pollute the water, and degrade habitats.
The protection of the Delaware River Basin also protects the 600,000 jobs in agriculture, fishing, and tourism that rely on the river. This is a victory for environmental justice and demonstrates the efficacy of inter-state collaboration on conservation and public health initiatives.
