Bill > S02351

This bill prohibits publicly owned treatment works from accepting wastewater associated with the exploration, delineation, development, or production of natural gas from high-volume hydraulic fracturing, which is defined as hydraulic fracturing for natural gas extraction using greater than 300,000 gallons of water regardless of whether the well is vertical, directional, or horizontal. However, the bill provides an exception where a publicly owned treatment works can appeal to the Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Water for an exemption if it can meet a standard of performance that permits no discharge of pollutants or, if not feasible, reflects the greatest degree of effluent reduction achievable through the application of the best available demonstrated control technology, processes, operating methods, or other alternatives.