Rensselaer, NY, Oct 26, 2011 — The state's environmental agency is putting the brakes on the process to approve hydrofracking on some private lands in New York. That's after a key advisory panel says it will miss a November 1 deadline to issue a report. In Albany, Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Oct 21, 2011 — An advisory panel on hydrofracking in New York may not meet its initial November deadline to report on potential fees to charge gas drillers and other impacts on proposed hydrofracking on the state. In Albany, Karen DeWitt has the details.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Oct 07, 2011 — About a dozen Assembly members spent much of the day Thursday questioning top officials from the state's Department of Environmental Conservation at a public hearing on hydrofracking. The Innovation Trail's Marie Cusick reports from Albany.  Go to full article

Dryden, NY, Oct 06, 2011 — New York's proposed regulations for the drilling technique known as "hydro-fracking" are currently in the public comment stage. The Department of Envitronmental Conservation has scheduled four public hearings will be held in November, three in the Marcellus shale region and one in New York City.

Environmental groups want more time for comment. And they'd also like public hearings in the Utica Shale area, which may be the next region slated for drilling.

As the state process advances, some communities are moving to make their towns 'off-limits' to the drillers. The "local control" tactic is being watched closely, particularly the Town of Dryden, where a test case is brewing. Our story comes from David Chanatry with the New York Reporting Project at Utica College.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Oct 05, 2011 — Environmental groups continue to ask Governor Cuomo's Administration to extend the public comment period on hydro fracking. On Tuesday, they tried to appeal to the governor himself.

The groups delivered 180 water-powered alarm clocks to Governor Cuomo's office door, as part of their request for more time for the public to comment on proposed rules to allow hydrofracking in New York on some private lands.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Sep 29, 2011 — New York environmental regulators have formally issued proposed regulations for hydraulic fracturing. Drilling companies want to "hydro-frack" the Marcellus Shale region of southern New York. The Department of Environmental Conservation has scheduled four public hearings on the proposed rules.

The document, originally posted online in July, outlines regulations for companies that want to "hydrofrack". It's a process where water, chemicals, and sand are pumped at high pressure deep into wells to release natural gas from the bedrock.

New York hasn't allowed "hydrofracking'' in the Marcellus Shale over the past three years and it won't be allowed until the process completes its new permitting rules.

Dennis Holbrook is vice president of the North Exploration, with offices outside of Buffalo. He's been drilling in New York for twenty years and is glad the process is moving forward.

Claire Sandberg is with the group Frack Action. She says even though New York looked at problems in Pennsylvania and other states before drafting its rules, environmentalists have many reasons to be concerned. Julie Grant has more.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Sep 21, 2011 — A new poll on several current issues, finds more New Yorkers support hydrofracking in the Marcellus shale region of upstate New York--and that the majority thinks expanding casino gambling in the state is a good idea. Karen DeWitt has the details:  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Sep 09, 2011 — The news has been dominated this week by more flooding from the remnants of hurricane Lee, and the release from the state's environmental agency of a draft final report on hydrofracking. As Karen DeWitt reports, a key state lawmaker says there are several areas in which these two issues converge.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Sep 09, 2011 — New York's Department of Environmental Conservation says it may now reconsider which areas in the Marcellus shale are deemed flood plains, in the light of recent catastrophic flooding. But the department says it will not delay the environmental review of fracking over the issue. (see related story)

Karen DeWitt has the DEC response.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Sep 08, 2011 — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has announced it will lengthen the public comment period on its final draft environmental impact statement for hydraulic fracturing. The comment period will be extended from 60 to 90 days and the DEC will hold four public hearings. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article