Jeff Tittel (File Photo)
A coalition of New Jersey groups is calling on the Legislature to protect the state against toxic fracking waste. The Legislature already did. Gov. Christie vetoed it.
"Governor Christie by vetoing the frack waste ban has just vetoed clean water in New Jersey. With this veto the Governor has sided with the big polluters against protecting New Jersey’s waterways from toxic frack waste. Fracking waste is a witches brew of over 700 different chemicals including some radioactive. He has sided with big oil and gas companies against the environment and clean water in New Jersey. He is more concerned about his national politics than he is about New Jersey’s clean water. We have enough pollution in New Jersey we do not need fracking waste to be dumped here. We do not need out of state waste haulers dumping in New Jersey," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
Adds David Pringle, NJ campaign director of Clean Water Action, "Overriding vetoes are tough with politics too often trumping good policy. Legislators will be under pressure to abandon environmental protections but we're counting on them to continue to prioritize clean water and not let New Jersey be dumped on more. Without the override, the pressure to dump even more in Raritan Bay and permit LNG plants off the Jersey Shore will only increase as fracking expands in Pennsylvania, other disposal options are restricted, and known frack gas deposits in New York and New Jersey are explored."
Hydraulic fracturing is a process used to extract natural gas and petroleum from deep fissures in bedrock. It involves pumping water and chemicals into the ground to break rock apart to release gas or oil for capture.
Supporters of the process say it creates jobs and adds to our energy supply. Critics say it potentially can pollute ground water. Christie critics say the governor is pandering to the petroleum industry and conservatives he wants on his side when he runs for the GOP nomination for president.
