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Delaware River Basin Commission Postpones Plan To Allow Fracking In Region

WEST TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- A key decision on the future of fracking in the region has been put on hold.  It appears there may not be a lot of political support for the practice.

Members of the Delaware River Basin Commission were scheduled to decide Monday on a revised list of regulations that would allow natural gas drilling and govern the process.  The states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware each get a vote, as does the federal government.

New York is on record against fracking, and now Delaware indicates it will also vote no, given concerns over protection of drinking water.

That prompted this move, announced by commission spokeswoman Kate O'Hara:

"The commissioners decided to postpone the meeting. There are still some open issues that they have to work through."

…such as making sure they have the necessary three votes to approve fracking under these proposed regulations.

The other entities have not indicated how they'd vote on the question, although New Jersey already has a one-year moratorium in place on all fracking.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060

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