Business Leader Warns of Missed Economic Opportunity
News provided by
The African-American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, Inc.Feb 23, 2011, 03:57 ET
TRENTON, N.J., Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The debate over natural gas development in the Northeast will culminate this week in Trenton, New Jersey, where the last of three public hearings are being held by the multi-state agency responsible for regulations governing drilling. Ahead of his planned testimony at the hearing, African-American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey President and Founder John Harmon warns of the consequences of overregulation and missed economic opportunity:
"Regulators at the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) want to create more red tape by putting in place duplicative new rules and imposing hefty fees on business operations," says Harmon. "These roadblocks will hamper the ability of New Jerseyans to start working again and diminish new investments in the region."
The natural gas industry already supports thousands of New Jersey jobs in the transportation, construction and manufacturing industries, yet there is room for much more job growth.
Harmon says, "The current DRBC regulations are at odds with the pro-business strides New Jersey has made lately. The people of New Jersey want practical policy solutions like Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno's Red Tape Review Commission, not new roadblocks to development. With high energy prices, debt obligations and a fragile national economy, we can't afford to miss out on the jobs and opportunity supported by natural gas development."
An interstate compact between New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the federal government, DRBC is a government agency which manages water resources throughout the Delaware River basin region. DRBC will be holding three hearings this week to allow the public to comment on the agency's draft Water Quality Regulations that would apply to natural gas development projects.
The African-American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, Inc., (AACCNJ) is a 501(c)(3) that provides advocacy and support for businesses throughout the State of New Jersey. AACCNJ is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African-American communities throughout NJ.
SOURCE The African-American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, Inc.
WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?
Newsrooms &
Influencers
Digital Media
Outlets
Journalists
Opted In
Share this article