New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
WASHINGTON, DC — “New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation has sent word that the state’s controversial proposal for fracking in the Marcellus Shale will have to undergo a new rule-making process as a result of the Cuomo Administration’s recent decision to undertake an in-depth review of the proposal’s potential impacts on public health.
Late yesterday afternoon, in response to a question posed by Shale Gas Review blogger Tom Wilber, DEC’s Director of Public Information, Emily DeSantis, announced: ‘DEC has said no regulations or final decision will be issued until the completion of [State Health Commissioner] Dr. Shah’s review; should high-volume hydraulic fracturing move forward, it is expected that a new rule-making process would be undertaken.’ Undertaking a new rule-making process after the health analysis is concluded will likely push any final action to advance (or reject) fracking in New York back well into 2013. And the new rule-making proceeding will also have to be subject to public comment.”
— Eric Goldstein, Natural Resources Defense Council
