Landowners to continue fight to drill near Delaware River

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) — Despite an adverse legal ruling, landowners in northeastern Pennsylvania are planning to continue their fight to drill for natural gas in the Delaware River watershed.

Wayne Land and Mineral Group LLC is battling the Delaware River Basin Commission for the right to drill on its 180-acre property in Wayne County. The agency monitors and regulates the water supply of more than 15 million people and has banned natural gas development since 2010 while it works on regulations for drilling and fracking.

The landowners’ group argued in a federal lawsuit that the commission lacks jurisdiction to regulate drilling. A judge ruled last week that natural gas development is subject to commission oversight and dismissed the lawsuit.

David Overstreet is an attorney for the plaintiffs. He says his clients plan to appeal.