The Department of Environmental Conservation had to issue the revisions after the Cuomo administration missed a deadline Thursday to complete new rules for gas drilling in New York.

The DEC applied for an extension and now has 90 more days to finish making the rules. Under the terms of the extension, a new public comment period must be held.

The DEC says it will accept comments from Dec. 12 through Jan. 11, 2013, giving pro- and anti-fracking forces another chance to have a say on whether the gas drilling process should be allowed in New York.   

The earliest the new rules could be completed would be late February. Environmental officials are also working on a separate, environmental impact statement that needs to be finished before fracking could begin.

And, Cuomo's health commissioner is working on a health impact review, with the help of three outside experts, that is also not yet completed.