New Jersey Fracking Moratorium Inadequate in Protecting State Residents From Dangerous Practice


Statement of Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter

Washington, D.C.— “Governor Chris Christie’s decision to turn the New Jersey state legislature’s ban of fracking into a one-year moratorium on the practice disregards both the decision of the state legislature and the will of the public for whom the legislature acts. It is unacceptable for Christie to turn a permanent ban into a mere one-year suspension. The state legislature should protect New Jerseyans from the public health and environmental hazards of fracking by overturning Christie’s decision.

“Earlier this summer, the New Jersey legislature put public interests before oil and gas industry profits by voting to ban fracking in the state altogether. An overwhelming majority of state legislators supported a permanent ban–33 to 1 in the Senate, and 58 to 11 in the Assembly.

“Eighty state and local governments in the U.S. have taken steps to protect their residents from fracking. Rather than joining these forward-looking municipalities and acting in the interests of the 8.7 million state residents he is tasked to represent, Governor Christie has instead chosen to pander to the natural gas industry. Food & Water Watch’s New Jersey office and our coalition partners there have worked tirelessly to protect the residents of New Jersey from the dangers of fracking. Nothing short of a permanent fracking ban will be sufficient in realizing that goal. We will continue to advocate for a permanent ban of fracking in New Jersey.”

Contact: Kate Fried, Food & Water Watch, (202) 683-2500, kfried(at)fwwatch(dot)org.