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Responding to a draft environmental impact statement related to gas drilling, Upper Delaware Council (UDC) is issuing a second letter. Directed to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), addressing potential hazardous material spills is spelled out.
Approved at the UDC meeting Thursday night, the state is asked to require drilling companies to coordinate with emergency response teams at all levels of government. At the expense of the driller, local emergency responders should receive hazmat training and any specialized equipment needed.
Of concern is the potential for spilling chemicals used in fracking fluids ejected into the well to force the natural gas to come forth.
Emergency responders also need to be aware of any potentially hazardous sites such as compressor stations and pipeline segments, the UDC notes. If hazardous materials or waste products are transported by train, drilling companies need to coordinate with railroads and emergency response officials to deal with any rail incident, says the UDC letter.
At their November 5th meeting, the UDC issued their first letter to the DEC since the draft plan was released. Referring to the River Management Plan put in place to protect the resources of the Upper Delaware Corridor, the UDC listed 28 areas of concern. The November 5th letter states that the UDC “is very concerned over how the cumulative effect of natural gas exploration and associated facilities might affect the river corridor and the entire watershed.
“Much of the river corridor is comprised of forested steep slopes and low-land areas which are susceptible to flooding. Clearing for well pads, access roads, and pipelines, and other facilities could have an impact on the character of the area and pose significant threat as to natural resources, particularly water quality, for which the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River corridor was designated as a unit of the National Park Service System by Congress in 1978.”
The UDC asked the DEC to let them know, as well as local officials, of any applications for natural gas-related activities which could impact the corridor.
Responding to a draft environmental impact statement related to gas drilling, Upper Delaware Council (UDC) is issuing a second letter. Directed to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), addressing potential hazardous material spills is spelled out.
Approved at the UDC meeting Thursday night, the state is asked to require drilling companies to coordinate with emergency response teams at all levels of government. At the expense of the driller, local emergency responders should receive hazmat training and any specialized equipment needed.
Of concern is the potential for spilling chemicals used in fracking fluids ejected into the well to force the natural gas to come forth.
Emergency responders also need to be aware of any potentially hazardous sites such as compressor stations and pipeline segments, the UDC notes. If hazardous materials or waste products are transported by train, drilling companies need to coordinate with railroads and emergency response officials to deal with any rail incident, says the UDC letter.
At their November 5th meeting, the UDC issued their first letter to the DEC since the draft plan was released. Referring to the River Management Plan put in place to protect the resources of the Upper Delaware Corridor, the UDC listed 28 areas of concern. The November 5th letter states that the UDC “is very concerned over how the cumulative effect of natural gas exploration and associated facilities might affect the river corridor and the entire watershed.
“Much of the river corridor is comprised of forested steep slopes and low-land areas which are susceptible to flooding. Clearing for well pads, access roads, and pipelines, and other facilities could have an impact on the character of the area and pose significant threat as to natural resources, particularly water quality, for which the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River corridor was designated as a unit of the National Park Service System by Congress in 1978.”
The UDC asked the DEC to let them know, as well as local officials, of any applications for natural gas-related activities which could impact the corridor.
