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The Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) proposed regulations are “overreaching” and “attack local government functions,” according to the Wayne County Planning Commission.
In a letter send to the DRBC on March 2, chairwoman Kuni Holbert said the approach the regulations are taking in regard to well pads in forested areas is “very troubling.”
“Your regulations should be limited to oversight of those issues involving water allocation and wastewater disposal only,” she wrote.
“It would be wrong for the DRBC to institute regulations that attack local government functions,” she stated.
The letter continues to state that setbacks, circulation plans and other similar issues have traditionally been addressed through local zoning ordinances, and should not be a function of DRBC regulations.
The commission says although the current issue is about natural gas, the DRBC is taking a “tremendously dangerous first step,” widening its reach on just about any traditional local land use function.
“It will eventually lead to an erosion of local governance,” she wrote. “With the right mix of self-proclaimed proactive envelope pushers in place at the DRBC, this first step is all that would be needed to justify the continued growth of DRBC’s intervention in local land use issues.”
The commissions says the DRBC should focus solely on water use allocations and disposal issues.
“It is much more appropriate for local officials who are elected by, and accountable to, their neighbors to be able to retain their rightful authority to make land use decisions, rather than a detached regional bureaucracy located hours away,” Holbert stated. “Local officials know their neighborhoods and know the needs of the people they serve and see every day.”
The letter also says the regulations “Natural Gas Development Plan” procedure duplicates many functions of local and state government.
“We believe the ‘Natural Gas Development Plan’ requirements should be removed from the draft DRBC regulations,” the letter states.
The Wayne County Planning Commission consists of Holbert, Alfred Bucconear, Richard Henry, Alan Highhouse, Daniel Liptak, Donald Olsommer, Peter Ridd, William Troop and Frank Ward.
The Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC) proposed regulations are “overreaching” and “attack local government functions,” according to the Wayne County Planning Commission.
In a letter send to the DRBC on March 2, chairwoman Kuni Holbert said the approach the regulations are taking in regard to well pads in forested areas is “very troubling.”
“Your regulations should be limited to oversight of those issues involving water allocation and wastewater disposal only,” she wrote.
“It would be wrong for the DRBC to institute regulations that attack local government functions,” she stated.
The letter continues to state that setbacks, circulation plans and other similar issues have traditionally been addressed through local zoning ordinances, and should not be a function of DRBC regulations.
The commission says although the current issue is about natural gas, the DRBC is taking a “tremendously dangerous first step,” widening its reach on just about any traditional local land use function.
“It will eventually lead to an erosion of local governance,” she wrote. “With the right mix of self-proclaimed proactive envelope pushers in place at the DRBC, this first step is all that would be needed to justify the continued growth of DRBC’s intervention in local land use issues.”
The commissions says the DRBC should focus solely on water use allocations and disposal issues.
“It is much more appropriate for local officials who are elected by, and accountable to, their neighbors to be able to retain their rightful authority to make land use decisions, rather than a detached regional bureaucracy located hours away,” Holbert stated. “Local officials know their neighborhoods and know the needs of the people they serve and see every day.”
The letter also says the regulations “Natural Gas Development Plan” procedure duplicates many functions of local and state government.
“We believe the ‘Natural Gas Development Plan’ requirements should be removed from the draft DRBC regulations,” the letter states.
The Wayne County Planning Commission consists of Holbert, Alfred Bucconear, Richard Henry, Alan Highhouse, Daniel Liptak, Donald Olsommer, Peter Ridd, William Troop and Frank Ward.
