Gov. Tom Corbett is calling on the Delaware River Basin Commission to lift a three-year moratorium on gas drilling.
Corbett says in a letter to the commission that the long delay in approving drilling regulations has depressed economic growth in northeastern Pennsylvania and deprived landowners of their property rights.
The agency monitors the drinking-water supply of 15 million people, including Philadelphia and half the population of New York City. It has banned Marcellus Shale drilling projects in the four-state basin until the rulemaking process is complete.
The DRBC was supposed to consider adoption of drilling rules in November 2011, but canceled the vote. It has not been rescheduled.
A DRBC spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.
More stories on NBC10.com:
