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National Parks and Hydraulic Fracturing Balancing Energy Needs, Nature, and America’s National Heritage

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational CASE STUDY and Delaware Water National Area, New York | |

A drilling moratorium is keeping fracking threats at bay, just around the bend from the Delaware and River (NJ). ©Steve Greer Photography

The largest undammed river east of the Mississippi River courses through Delaware Water Gap (NRA) and Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (SRR). For now, the drilling moratorium set by the Basin Commission (DRBC), the agency charged with regulating natural gas development in the basin, shields these parks from the escalating Marcellus shale rush. But if the moratorium is lifted, the parks will quickly feel impacts from the entire drilling process—particularly in the upper watershed.

Energy extraction will degrade the compressor stations. In addition, both What’s At Stake area’s forests and scenic views. Noise national parks will face impacts to the In southern New York, two flow will shatter the peace and quiet of river, its recreational values, its plants south and join near the town of Hancock Upper Delaware SRR. Both Upper and wildlife, and area air quality. to form the of the Delaware Delaware SRR and Delaware Water All of these issues will require the River, which continues south to serve Gap NRA will be forced to contend parks to divert human resources away as the border between Pennsylvania with pipelines proposed across their from visitor services to managing the and New York. Farther downstream, boundaries and from the impacts of pressures wrought by fracking. the river separates Pennsylvania and Fracking Near the Delaware River Basin

Sources: NPCA; EIA; www.fractracker.org

NATIONAL PARKS AND HYDRAULIC FRACTURING ~ Balancing Energy Needs, Nature, and America’s National Heritage New Jersey, and then ultimately flows are of special concern in either fracturing nonetheless poses a threat: into Delaware Bay, one of the most Pennsylvania or New Jersey. One of Clean water is absolutely essential to productive along the East these, the bog turtle (Glyptemys this park’s recreational activities. Coast. The national Great Waters muhlenbergii), is federally listed as Impacts to water quality and quantity Coalition designated the Delaware River threatened.2 from fracking could also affect several a United States Great Water, and the important fisheries at Upper Delaware Delaware (which includes 3 Fracking and Park Resources SRR. As one of the last undammed Delaware Bay and the tidal portion of Upper Delaware SRR sits atop the major rivers in the Eastern United States, the river) is part of the National Estuary gas-rich Marcellus shale. Within this the Delaware River provides important Program administered by the U.S. formation, the most attractive lands spawning and nursery habitat for Environmental Protection Agency. The for shale gas fracturing lie high up in American shad (Alosa sapidissima) river also provides drinking water to the watershed. Much is at stake if and American eels (Anguilla rostra- 15 million people. fracking occurs near Upper Delaware ta). The river also provides habitat for SRR, including the peace and tranquility several rare and endangered fresh- Two national parks protect this water mussels. All could suffer from remarkable resource: Upper Delaware sedimentation, chemical contamination, SRR and Delaware Water Gap NRA, and diminished water flows associated both a short drive from New York City with fracking. and its immediate suburbs. Upper While the prospect of hydraulic Delaware SRR offers water-based fracturing directly next to Delaware recreational activities, eagle watching, Water Gap NRA is not likely, the park clean air, and peace and tranquility will still be seriously impacted if water along an intact river corridor. Between quality and water quantity are affected 2007 and 2011, average annual upstream. The park already is facing recreational visits topped 273,500. potential infrastructure issues associ- The park is also home to the federally ated with the Northeastern gas boom. listed endangered dwarf wedgemussel and pipelines for transporting (Alasmidonta heterodon), long thought of the region, its quiet natural sound- recovered gas could mar scenic views to have disappeared from the Upper scape, and its quality night skies. All and impose serious habitat loss and Delaware River but recently rediscov- of these qualities will fade with the fragmentation. The potential for air 1 ered through intensive field surveys. ground disturbance and traffic pollution is another challenge. Intensive typically associated with the drilling oil and gas development in other parts Just downstream is Delaware Water process. Fracking would also introduce of the United States is linked with air Gap NRA, offering a full slate of water into the small creeks that quality problems, and fracking near activities, as well as hiking, biking, feed the Delaware River, diminishing these two Delaware River national parks birding, horseback riding, and a water quality. could elevate concentrations of ground- diverse set of historic treasures. level ozone and visibility-impairing Between 1997 and 2011, average Contamination of ground and surface haze—hardly the qualities that visitors annual visitation hovered around waters is also a concern. While the expect to find in these two exceptionally 5 million. The park harbors a large evidence of groundwater contamination attractive national parks. from existing fracking operations is number of black bears, as well as Above: Fracking poses a risk to the other wildlife residents that include mixed, and the risks of natural and recreational resources of 26 species of reptile, eight of which contamination are still unquantified, the Delaware River. ©Richard Genova

1. cole, J. C., P. A. Townsend, and K. N. Eshleman. 2008. Predicting Flow and Temperature Regimes at Three Alasmidonta heterodon locations in the Delaware River. Technical Report NPS/NER/NRTR—2008/109.National Park Service. , PA. 2. http://www.nps.gov/dewa/naturescience/reptiles.htm, accessed 6/29/2012 3. http://www.nps.gov/upde/naturescience/waterquality.htm, accessed 9/13/2012

npca.org

NATIONAL PARKS AND HYDRAULIC FRACTURING ~ Balancing Energy Needs, Nature, and America’s National Heritage