Gas Company Seeks 700,000 Gallons from Delaware Tributary
By Erika C.
Stone Energy Corp, a Louisiana-based energy company, has a few natural gas drilling wells in Pennsylvania.
Drilling at the company’s site in Clinton Twp. was halted and the company fined by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) in the summer of 2008 because of the company’s failure to get a permit. Now, Stone Energy has submitted a request to extract water from the Lackawaxen, a tributary of the Delaware. The company plans to extract 700,000 gallons of water a day to hydraulically fracture their area wells.
In July of 2009 Chesapeake Energy Corp. filed an application for a permit that would allow them to extract one million gallons of water a day from the West Branch of the Delaware. There were so many objections and letters of protest that Chesapeake withdrew its request before the hearing took place.
On February 24, the DRBC held a hearing to get input from residents about Stone Energy’s request. About 200 people turned out to give their feedback on the possible permits. “More people were against it than for it,” said DRBC member, Clarke Rupert.
The DRBC is also giving people an opportunity to add their input on their website. People can also view the powerpoint presented at the meeting and can read the draft documents on the DRBC’s website. To learn more or to make a comment, visit the DRBC’s website at www.DRBC.net. The comment period will end on March 12 at 5:00 PM.
