N.J. governor vetoes ban on well fracking
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Gov. Chris Christie sought to strike some middle ground Thursday, signing a conditional veto of a bill that would have banned a natural gas process called hydraulic fracturing in New Jersey.
Instead, he wants the Legislature to enact a one-year moratorium.
While the action may seem largely symbolic in a state believed to have no natural gas reserves worth exploring -- for now -- environmental and industry groups said the governor is sending a strong message, although its exact meaning depended on the observer's perspective.
His action, some critics said, also signals that the state is unlikely to push for strong regulations as one of the five members on the Delaware River Basin Commission, which oversees the watershed supplying much of the Philadelphia region's drinking water.
It has a moratorium on natural gas exploration. That would change after new rules are passed, which could happen next month.
Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting water and additives, some toxic, under high pressure into the ground to break apart the geologic formation and release the gas. Some of it comes back to the surface, laden with more contaminants.
Spills of fluids have contaminated some waterways, Pennsylvania inspectors have found.
State industry executives praised the action, saying a permanent ban would have struck fear in the marketplace, causing natural gas prices to rise. New Jersey manufacturers use large amounts of natural gas as a raw material for products and for energy generation.
On Thursday, industry leaders launched Natural Gas for New Jersey, a coalition to promote "the responsible development and affordable consumption of clean energy."
Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, responded that the Christie plan emphasizes natural gas at the expense of renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind.
"This is all about Christie trying to dismantle the state's clean energy plan," he said.
Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, said the governor's action is a "strong indication that he's going to be increasingly weak" about the basin commission's proposed drilling regulations.
Mr. Christie declined to address the moratorium issue.
In a news release, he said, "I share many of the concerns expressed by the legislators that sponsored this bill and the environmental advocates seeking a permanent moratorium on fracking."
However, the governor said that significant facts and studies on the issue are still outstanding with the federal U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy.
First Published August 26, 2011 12:00 am
