Enforcement focus is on DUI, Aggressive Driving, and Seat Belts.

Dover – Soon thousands of Delawareans will be hitting the road to visit family and friends and even do some after Thanksgiving shopping.  The Office of Highway Safety wants to remind motorists as they travel this holiday season to buckle up, have patience on the roadway with other drivers, and if partaking in some holiday ‘spirits’ use a designated driver because Delaware law enforcement will be on high alert to make sure you arrive safely to your destination.

“I’m thankful that efforts like this are underway to help keep families more safe this holiday season,” Governor Jack Markell said. “The message is clear – celebrate, but celebrate safely.”

Sunday November 20^th will begin the Delaware Office of Highway Safety’s 13^th annual Safe Family Holiday Campaign.  Safe Family Holiday enforcement activities over the next six weeks will include 29 law enforcement agencies statewide conducting a total of 1,009 DUI saturation patrols, 133 Aggressive Driving patrols, 114 Seat Belt patrols, & 2 Seat Belt checkpoints.

Overtime seat belt enforcement begins November 20^th and runs through December 3^rd and aggressive driving enforcement will run November 21^st through December 31^st.  The DUI saturation patrols will begin November 23^rd and will run through the entire holiday season and will supplement already scheduled Checkpoint Strikeforce DUI checkpoints.

“Thanksgiving is the beginning of the holiday party season with family get-togethers and holiday work parties and as a result we tend to see an increase in crashes and injuries on our roadways,” said Jana Simpler, Director of the Office of Highway Safety.  “Think twice about hitting Delaware roadways this holiday season unbelted, impaired, or driving aggressively. Our law enforcement partners will be patrolling and you will be stopped for failing to obey Delaware’s traffic laws.”

Since January 1^st of this year, 92 people have lost their lives on Delaware roadways in 87 fatal traffic crashes, compared to 88 people killed in 80 fatal traffic crashes this time last year.  Aggressive driving behaviors, including speeding, running stop signs, and not granting right of way, have contributed to 36% of the fatal traffic crashes so far this year. To date alcohol consumption has been involved in 27% of the traffic deaths, and 58% of vehicle occupant fatalities were individuals not wearing their seat belts.

Seat belt enforcement was added to the focus of Safe Family Holiday because of the rise in unbelted traffic deaths this year coupled with the slight decrease in the statewide seat belt use rate.  Safety officials are hoping that with the additional focus on seat belts this holiday season, more people will buckle up.

“Properly wearing your seat belt can mean the difference between surviving a crash and becoming a statistic. This holiday season we’re asking everyone to be more conscientious and buckle up every trip, every time,” said Lewis Schiliro, Secretary for Delaware Safety and Homeland Security.

Over the last decade, several public awareness activities have become Safe Family Holiday traditions including the OHS “Mocktail” party and the DUI Tree project.  “Mocktails” are non-alcoholic cocktail parties, where safety information, responsible party hosting tips, and samples of “smart” party foods will be provided.  OHS first Mocktail event this holiday season will be held at Beebe Hospital on November 22nd with more to be held in December at Christiana, Nanticoke, Kent General and AI DuPont Hospitals, and Dover Downs and Perdue in Milford.

The DUI Tree memorializes alcohol-related deaths and injuries during the campaign period by placing colored light bulbs on the tree to represent each victim.  There are four DUI Trees and this year they will have a permanent home with some of the highway safety corporate partners.  The trees will be set up the week of Thanksgiving at Kent General Hospital in Dover, Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, and A.I. DuPont Hospital in Wilmington.  Last year, 2 people were killed and 57 were injured in alcohol-related crashes in Delaware during the holiday season.

The Safe Family Holiday Campaign, which runs from Thanksgiving Eve to New Year’s Day, in conjunction with the Checkpoint Strikeforce campaign, is OHS’ major traffic safety initiative for the holiday season.  It includes a combination of high visibility enforcement, public awareness activities, and media messaging aimed at stopping impaired and other dangerous drivers.

For more information on these or any of our other Safe Family Holiday campaign efforts follow us on Twitter @DEHighwaySafe, visit our website for updates at www.ohs.delaware.gov, or Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

Thanking Our Troops

Photos from Afghanistan are being continually updated as received: http://www.flickr.com/photos/delawaregovernor/6351833437/in/photostream

DOVER – In his weekly message, recorded in Afghanistan, Governor Markell thanks servicemen and women who continually and unselfishly display incredible levels of loyalty and patriotism in service to their country.  In Afghanistan, the Governor visited Delaware National Guard troops and other Service members currently deployed in support of U.S. military operations.   He traveled with Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy and other Department of Defense and military personnel as part of the Governors’ Delegation Program to visit deployed Service members overseas.

“The most eye-opening thing for me was to see was a soldier who had literally, just a couple hours before I got to the hospital at the Bagram Air Base, had come in having lost his legs,” said the Governor.  “This is the world that tens of thousands of American soldiers are working in – in Afghanistan. This is dangerous work and they are owed our incredible gratitude for the work they are doing on our behalf.”

The Governor looks forward to coming back home and to telling everyone personally about the extraordinary work of the hundreds of people from Delaware in the National Guard and the other Delawareans serving overseas.

“It’s important, you know, sometimes we go about our daily lives back home and you might read about what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan in the newspapers, see something on TV, but may not really think about it,” said the Governor.  “We have to remember these are our neighbors, they’re our friends. These are the people that we live with and they’re working so hard, fighting hard, for us.  Let’s be sure we thank them. And when they come home and we have the chance, let’s hire them as well.  Let’s do what we can to put our vets back to work.”

The Governor’s visit occurred between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.

About the Governor’s Weekly Message:

At noon every Friday, a new video message is posted to the Governor’s website and YouTube channel and is distributed to Delaware media outlets.   Transcripts of the messages are posted and the audio version of the Governor’s message is available on iTunes as a podcast for distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers.   The Governor’s weekly message is currently being carried on the air and posted on websites by various media outlets, and the direct link is: http://youtu.be/DGPVdVhPniI.

Constituents, media outlets and others are free to link to the Governor’s video message on YouTube –http://www.youtube.com/user/GovernorMarkell – or on his Facebook page –www.facebook.com/governormarkell – or on the Delaware State website athttp://governor.delaware.gov/information/podcast_video.shtml.  All are also invited to follow him on Twitter – www.twitter.com/governormarkell – and submit ideas through http://ideas.delaware.gov.

Transcript of the Governor’s weekly message: The Governor in Afghanistan

Hi, this is Delaware Governor Jack Markell, and I am recording this from Afghanistan where I have come to thank the members of the Delaware National Guard and other Delawareans who are serving here for their extraordinary efforts here in Afghanistan.

I stopped in Kuwait along the way and met some folks from Delaware there as well.

So far on my visit, the most eye-opening thing for me was to see was a soldier who had literally just a couple hours before I got to the hospital at the Bagram Air Base had come in having lost his legs.

This is the world that tens of thousands of American soldiers are working in – in Afghanistan. This is dangerous work and they are owed our incredible gratitude for the work they are doing on our behalf.

I look forward to coming back home, and to telling more of you personally about the extraordinary work of the hundreds of people from Delaware in the National Guard and the other Delawareans who are here as well.  It’s important, you know, sometimes we go about our daily lives back home and you might read about what’s going on in Iraq and Afghanistan in the newspapers, see something on TV, but may not really think about it.

We have to remember these are our neighbors, they’re our friends. These are the people that we live with and they’re working so hard, fighting hard, for us. Let’s be sure we thank them. And when they come home and we have the chance, let’s hire them as well. Let’s do what we can to put our vets back to work. Thank you all.   I look forward to seeing you back in Delaware.

“Fracking” Proposal Currently Lacks Sufficient Health and Safety Protections

Delaware will vote “No” at Monday meeting of the Delaware River Basin Commission

The proposed regulations that would authorize drilling and hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) to begin in the Delaware River Basin lack critical details on how public health and safety would be protected, Governor Jack Markell wrote today in a letter to the other voting members of the Delaware River Basin Commission.

In the letter, Markell made clear that Delaware’s representative would vote against the Natural Gas Development Regulations at the Commission’s meeting in Trenton this Monday.

“Instead of beginning the exploration in the Delaware River Basin and hoping we get a proper regulatory framework in place after-the-fact, it is Delaware’s view the Commission has an obligation to ensure that critical issues regarding well construction and operation are finalized first and not subject to subsequent dilution,” Markell wrote.

Over 3,000 wells have already been drilled in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to harness natural gas out of the Marcellus Shale. While the watershed area that would be opened up to drilling under the Commission’s proposed regulations covers only a small portion of the Shale, it serves as the primary water supply source for at least two-thirds of Delaware’s citizens.

“By far, the single most important issue for a downstream state like Delaware is whether the wells are being drilled, constructed, and operated in a manner that adequately protects our public and private water supplies. Once hydrofracturing begins in the basin, the proverbial “faucet” cannot be turned off, with any damage to our freshwater supplies likely requiring generations of effort to clean up.  In this case, it is more important to get it right, than to be fast,” Markell wrote.

Markell made clear that he believes the nation can pursue the promise of this important domestic energy source without compromising the quality of our water supply. However, doing so demands the close coordination of multiple regulatory bodies including the state and local governments of Pennsylvania and New York, the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, and the Commission. Some of these regulatory offerings under consideration in each of these jurisdictions have (1) yet to be finalized; (2) have just been finalized but not fully evaluated; or (3) are final but inadequate to protect public safety.

For example, Pennsylvania’s legislative bodies are currently debating the science that underlies two separate pieces of legislation that would strengthen the rules regarding well construction and operation. In New York, scientists and citizens are still reviewing and commenting on New York’s draft regulations regarding well construction. Because those and other regulatory debates are still underway, Markell continues “to have significant concerns that the regulations may not adequately safe guard our regional water supply by adopting best practices for water withdrawal, siting and setback requirements, drilling and construction standards, ongoing operational protections, and clean up protocols and financial assurances should a release occur.”

The text of the letter is below.

November 17, 2011

The Honorable Governor Chris Christie
Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625

The Honorable Governor Thomas W. Corbett
Office of the Governor
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

The Honorable Governor Andrew P. Cuomo
Office of the Governor
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224

Colonel Christopher J. Larsen
Army Corps of Engineers
North Atlantic Division
302 General Lee Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11252

Re: Delaware River Basin Commission’s Natural Gas Development Regulations

Dear Commissioners:

The Delaware River Basin Commission (the “Commission”) is scheduled to vote on the revised draft Natural Gas Development Regulations this Monday, November 21, 2011. This is an important issue and many of you have asked about Delaware’s intentions. This letter outlines Delaware’s position in advance of Monday’s meeting and the rationale for that position.

It is without question that the decisions we make regarding this issue can have a profound impact on the Delaware River Basin for generations to come. While I believe our nation can pursue the promise of this important domestic energy source without compromising the quality of our water supply, doing so in this case requires a thoughtful regulatory balance and coordination between several states, the federal government and the Commission. For the reasons stated below, I am not convinced we have yet struck that balance or have demonstrated that coordination, and that is why, after careful and deliberate consideration, Delaware will vote no on the adoption of the Commission’s draft regulations at this time.

On one hand, the Marcellus Shale formation offers the promise of providing a critical source of domestic energy, with its enticing potential to provide local, low-emission, and cost-effective energy. In addition, hydrofracturing in the Delaware River Basin has the potential to create significant numbers of direct and indirect jobs in Pennsylvania and New York, not to mention potential tax revenue for states struggling to meet budget shortfalls. On the other hand, as Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley of Pennsylvania has stated, “no amount of economic benefit would justify the degradation of our land, air and water.”

For the past seventeen months of the Commission’s rulemaking process, Delaware’s interest has been simple. As a downstream state that could be adversely affected by poorly crafted and/or executed regulations, Delaware is focused on protecting the water quality throughout the Delaware River Basin. While this watershed only covers a small portion of the Marcellus Shale, it serves as the primary water supply source for at least two-thirds of Delaware’s citizens. For this reason, we have worked to ensure the Commission’s regulations strike an appropriate balance between potential economic development and responsible stewardship of our precious natural resources.

Striking this balance has proven to be very difficult and complicated because it requires the close coordination of multiple regulatory regimes: the state and local governments of Pennsylvania and New York; coupled with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and this Commission. Some of these regulatory schemes have (1) yet to be finalized; (2) have just been finalized but not fully evaluated; or (3) are final but inadequate. As such, we continue to have significant concerns that the regulations may not adequately safe guard our regional water supply by adopting best practices for water withdrawal, siting and setback requirements, drilling and construction standards, ongoing operational protections, and clean up protocols and financial assurances should a release occur.

One only has to look at the prior experience in Pennsylvania to determine that the Commission should not adopt regulations without fully addressing critical issues regarding well construction and operation. After Range Resources announced it had discovered a large gas field in southwestern Pennsylvania in late 2007, businesses big and small inundated small towns in Pennsylvania, seeking permits to drill in the Marcellus Shale. More than 3,000 wells were drilled in just over three years, and only after the fact, in 2011, did scientists, environmental and business leaders convene as part of Governor Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission and offer recommendations regarding the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible extraction and use of natural gas reserves in Pennsylvania. In its final report, the Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission noted several high profile incidents that underscore the potential impacts on ground and surface water caused by irresponsible hydrofracturing. As a result of its comprehensive and thoughtful review, the Commission offered 43 separate recommendations in July 2011 on how to better protect the public health and environment in Pennsylvania, many of which are not yet adopted by law, regulation or policy.

Instead of beginning exploration in the Delaware River Basin and hoping we get a proper regulatory framework in place after-the-fact, it is Delaware’s view the Commission has an obligation to ensure that critical issues regarding well construction and operation are finalized first and not subject to subsequent dilution. By far, the single most important issue for a downstream state like Delaware is whether the wells are being drilled, constructed, and operated in a manner that adequately protects our public and private water supplies. If the Commission is going to rely on the regulatory schemes of state and local governments on such issues, the Commission must review and evaluate such schemes in each of those states.

Otherwise, as EPA Regional Administrators Garvin and Enck properly noted in comments to this docket, the Commission should establish a minimum set of standards that any state requirements must meet. Because these state standards are still under development, Delaware has worked to improve the regulations with additional requirements for monitoring, financial assurance, site investigation following a release and remedial action; however, many smaller drilling operations will fall below the DRBC thresholds and will thus be governed by state regulations that are not yet final. Without a clear understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements regarding well construction and operation in New York and Pennsylvania, either through finalized and/or enacted state law or regulation, or through the Commission establishing minimum standards that must be met, I cannot conclude that the water resources in the basin will be adequately protected.

This does not mean that Delaware will refuse to move forward under any circumstances. In fact, I agree with Governor Corbett that the decision makers at all levels of government with respect to hydrofracturing should be guided by science, not emotion or desire for profit. But in Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth’s legislative bodies are currently debating the science that underlies two separate pieces of legislation that would strengthen the rules regarding well construction and operation. Further, in New York, scientists and citizens are still reviewing and commenting on New York’s draft regulations regarding well construction. Thus, the very efficacy of the Commission’s regulations depend heavily on state law or regulation but the decision makers in each state have yet to determine whether sound science will ultimately prevail. As such, this Commission is simply not able to properly evaluate these regulations based on the science at this time.

One final note on the process moving forward: the DRBC regulatory process has been a deliberate and thoughtful seventeen month process in which multiple public comment sessions were held, and more than 68,000 public comments were received and reviewed.

The Commission’s rulemaking process and the intense public interest on both sides of this issue reflect the importance of the decision the Commission will make. Delaware has repeatedly raised the issue of ensuring that the public has the opportunity to review and comment upon significant revisions to the draft regulations. However, the regulations presented for adoption on Monday, were released publicly on November 8 with very significant substantive changes upon which the public should have the ability to comment. Indeed, as recently as November 16, additional changes were made, and it is doubtful the public will have an opportunity to review them, let alone comment, before the public meeting. In the end, if we want the residents of our four states to have confidence in the final product, we must be completely transparent, including providing sufficient public comment opportunities in a manner similar to Federal and state regulatory processes.

In closing, the decision whether to allow hydrofracturing in the Delaware River Basin is a decision that will affect multiple generations of Delawareans. Once hydrofracturing begins in the basin, the proverbial “faucet” cannot be turned off, with any damage to our freshwater supplies likely requiring generations of effort to clean up. In this case, it is more important to get it right, than to be fast. As New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg stated, “[b]ecause full-scale development of natural gas exploitation in the watershed could degrade water quality, a rush to regulate and drill risks the long-term viability of one of the most important drinking water sources in the United States.” This risk is a significant concern for Delaware and therefore, until we have confidence that the Commission’s Natural Gas Development Regulations, coupled with the state and local regulations upon which they rely, are adequately protective of this water supply, I have a duty to current and future generations of Delawareans to vote no.

Sincerely,

Jack A. Markell

Governor

New office pushed by Attorney General Biden, legislators serves as resource throughout foreclosure process

Wilmington – Homeowners facing foreclosure throughout Delaware are now receiving vital assistance thanks to a new law championed by Attorney General Beau Biden and legislative leaders.

Sponsored by Representatives Helene Keeley, John Kowalko, Robert Gilligan and Mike Ramone and Senator Bethany Hall-Long, House Bill 59 created the new Office of Foreclosure Prevention and Financial Education in the Attorney General’s Office. HB 59 was part of a bipartisan package of legislation drafted by the Department of Justice and enacted this year that responds to the foreclosure crisis.

The new office, part of the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit, is headed by Gerard Kelly, who most recently served as Deputy State Bank Commissioner where he focused on consumer outreach and education. Kelly is a former member of the Wilmington City Council and a bank loan officer. The office will complement ongoing Department of Justice initiatives on mediation and outreach, and foster better communication between consumers, the Attorney General’s Office, other state agencies, and other entities.

“This office is an important new resource for consumers who have fallen behind on mortgage payments, are facing foreclosure, or simply want to have a meaningful conversation with their lender about their loan,” Attorney General Biden said. “We’re focused on making sure that homeowners understand the foreclosure process, that they know all of their rights and responsibilities, and that they are able to consider all of assistance available to them, including the mandatory foreclosure mediation program that will begin next January.”

The office is a key point of contact for consumers and is equipped to advise homeowners on their rights at every stage of the foreclosure process and direct them to available resources and information they need to make educated decisions.  In cases where foreclosure fraud is suspected, the office will provide referrals to the Consumer Protection Unit for evaluation.

Rep. Keeley said that prior to HB 59, resources for homeowners facing foreclosure were scattered across several groups and state agencies, which made the process difficult for consumers. Placing those resources into the Office of Foreclosure Prevention and Financial Education in the Attorney General’s office streamlines the process, she said.

“While everyone appreciates the efforts of the various state agencies and groups trying to help homeowners, having what is effectively one-stop shopping under the Attorney General’s office will greatly benefit consumers,” said Rep. Keeley, D-Wilmington South. “Homeowners only need to know one phone number, one place to go to get the help they need with foreclosures and financial literacy. This represents a huge step forward in combating foreclosures and helping homeowners get back on their feet.”

Along with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit, the Office of Foreclosure Prevention and Financial Education will continue to organize statewide housing workshops with a special emphasis on greater lender outreach and participation. Most recently, more than 150 Delaware families received services at two housing workshops sponsored by the Attorney General’s office last week in Seaford and Wilmington.

“I think this will be a tremendous and welcome resource for Delawareans who, until now, have had to go through a bureaucratic hodge-podge to find someone to help,” said Sen. Hall-Long, D-Middletown. “We know the costs of foreclosure to families and communities around the state. This is just another example of the effort we in state government are putting forth to stem that tide and keep people in their homes.”

Of the 13,000 Delaware homeowners currently in the foreclosure process, approximately half are at a stage where Delaware’s foreclosure mediation program can be helpful, and all homeowners facing foreclosure have options and resources available to them that they can discuss with the office.

Sheriff sales of foreclosed homes increased 33% statewide during the first ten months of 2011, climbing to 2,166 from 1,628 during the first ten months of 2010.  Among Delaware counties, Sussex recorded the biggest jump, 63% to 551 sales from 339 last year.  Statewide foreclosure filings for the first ten months of 2011 totaled 3,749, representing a reduced pace from the record 6,400 filed in all of 2010, but remaining at a historically elevated level.

Biden urged homeowners to contact the Office of Foreclosure Prevention and Financial Education by calling the Attorney General’s Mortgage Hotline at 800-220-5424, e-mailing mortgage@delaware.gov, or visiting www.attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/mortgageforeclosure.  In addition, homeowners can contact Gerry Kelly directly at 302-577-5092.

Attorney General’s Office Contact: Jason Miller
Work: (302) 577-8949
Cell: (302) 893-8939

House Contact: Drew Volturo
Work: (302) 744-4001
Cell: (302) 593-5969

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