Bresnahan Targets DRBC and Other Agencies to Pursue Natural Gas Drilling
The DRBC includes Governors of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania and an Army Corps of Engineers representative.
By Dakota Hendricks
During a restricted telephone town hall on March 25, Congressman Robert Bresnahan (PA-08) announced plans for swift action to allow natural gas extraction in Wayne County.
“I can confirm that people recognize the $900 million dollar worth of natural gas in Wayne County, and I am committed to reigning in the bureaucratic groups like the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC)… We can responsibly...capitalize on the energy underneath our feet.” Bresnahan stated.
The town hall was broadcast via Facebook Live and a telephone call for preregistered participants who verified their residency in his district. Bresnahan answered a limited number of screened questions and posed additional questions exclusively to phone participants. Many Facebook viewers expressed frustration over being unable to ask questions, experiencing disconnections or being screened out. The hour-long broadcast featured a static image of Bresnahan and closed captions.
Bresnahan said that natural gas extraction supports conservation by generating revenue for preservation efforts and infrastructure improvements. He promised further developments in early April, emphasizing that "there is a time and place for all sources of energy." His recent "Environmental Roundtable" discussion with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin indicates he is moving quickly on this issue.
The DRBC declined to comment on the EPA Roundtable, as they had no representative at the meeting, said Kate Schmidt, DRBC spokesperson. However, she said, “Regarding our regulations, the Delaware River Basin Commissioners voted to prohibit high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) in hydrocarbon-bearing rock formations within the Delaware River Basin in February 2021; the Commissioners also passed a regulation prohibiting the discharge of wastewater from HVHF or HVHF-related activities to Basin lands and waters in December 2022.”
Established in 1961, the DRBC was created to jointly protect water resources in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania within the Delaware River Basin. Its voting commissioners include the governors of each state and a federal representative from the Army Corps of Engineers.
According to their website, since 2008 the DRBC has reviewed documentation, technical studies, and the experiences of other agencies affected by High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing (HVHF), also called “fracking.” HVHF, defined as a process that combines directional drilling with hydraulic fracturing using large volumes of water and producing toxic wastewater, has been widely used since around 2008 to extract oil and gas from tight rock formations like shale.
In 2021, the DRBC concluded that HVHF posed a direct threat to water quality and imposed a ban. The following year the group also prohibited the discharge of fluids associated with HVHF into the region’s water.
Beyond energy policy, Bresnahan addressed many topics in varying depth including the Signal messaging scandal, concealed carry bills he supports, support for veterans and easing their burdens through reduced paperwork, housing access, and his commitment to protecting Medicare and Social Security. He also discussed his plans to apply his expertise to infrastructure improvements in his district.
Bresnahan said he opposes cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs serving the district’s most vulnerable residents, 27.1% of whom currently receive benefits. However, he supports removing "illegal aliens" and eliminating "waste, fraud, and abuse" from these programs to ensure they serve those they were "designed for." Bresnahan said he was in the White House recently speaking to the President about cutting these programs, adding,“It’s a nonstarter.”
As Vice Chair of the Highway and Transit Committee, Bresnahan draws on his background working for his family business, the electrical contracting company Kuharchik Construction. He noted that 25% of bridges in his district are classified as deficient. He said he is working to secure funding for repairs to infrastructure vital to the community.
On housing policy, Bresnahan highlighted the sharp rise in home prices from $150,000 to $350,000 over the past five years. He said he aims to lower material costs and labor costs associated with new construction and collaborate with all levels of government to reduce expenses. According to Bresnahan, cutting red tape at all levels of government, providing tax cuts to incentivize home weatherization, working to reduce inflation and partnering with and supporting groups like United Way will all aid in reducing the cost of homes and increasing availability in the area. His goal, he said, is to make homeownership attainable for this generation.
One of the poll questions posed to the audience—"Do you think the country is on the right track?"— was not discussed further. Other poll results were shared, including that 87% of participants opposed non citizen voting and 52% polled said their main concern was protecting Social Security Medicare and Medicaid.
The hour-long broadcast is available on Bresnahan’s congressional website and Facebook page.
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