TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Wastewater from natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania and other states could not be treated in New Jersey under a bill up for discussion Thursday.

The measure before the Garden State’s Senate Environment Committee bans shipping, transporting, treating or disposing of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

No vote will be taken.

The Assembly Environmental Committee released the bill Monday.

Fracking involves injecting large amounts of water, sand and chemicals into a well to crack surrounding shale thousands of feet underground, so trapped natural gas can flow into the well.

Environmentalists fear the drilling could contaminate drinking water supplies.

While New Jersey has no shale deposits, fracking opponents say the state could become a receptacle for wastewater treatment from other states.

Sound off in our comments section below…

(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)