The measure before the Garden State's Senate Environment Committee bans shipping, transporting, treating or disposing of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking
Erika Staaf, Clean Water Advocate for PennEnvironment, and other representatives of environmental groups speak before delivering boxes of comments on proposed 'fracking' rules to the Delaware River Basin Commission offices in Ewing in this April file photo. TRENTON — Wastewater from natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania and other states could not be treated in New Jersey under a bill up for discussion today.
The measure before the Garden State's Senate Environment Committee bans shipping, transporting, treating or disposing of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
No vote will be taken.
The Assembly Environmental Committee released the bill Monday.
Fracking involves injecting large amounts of water, sand and chemicals into a well to crack surrounding shale thousands of feet underground, so trapped natural gas can flow into the well.
Environmentalists fear the drilling could contaminate drinking water supplies.
While New Jersey has no shale deposits, fracking opponents say the state could become a receptacle for wastewater treatment from other states.
Related coverage:
• 'Fracking' opponents pack Trenton to oppose natural gas extraction in Delaware River basin
• Editorial: Fracking in N.J. should be determined by science, not money