News Blog

Yesterday, the state Department of Environmental Conservation released a revised version of its proposed regulations for high-volume hydraulic fracturing.

The DEC released the regs late in the day, and many of the folks who've been studying the regulations haven't yet commented or shared their impressions. But some environmental groups and fracking critics have rung in, and they're not happy. They say the DEC should've waited for the results of a state study on the potential health impacts of fracking.

"What needs to be made clear is what DEC did yesterday [Wednesday] was to file a completely revised set of fracking regulations without the benefit of vital health and environmental impact information," said a statement from the environmental group Riverkeeper. "These regulations will be open for public comment for only 30 days beginning on December 12. Neither the health nor environmental study will be completed before public comment on the revised regulations closes. This is not a request for an extension; this is the fracking regulation train leaving the station."

In its statement, Riverkeeper also said that if the governor truly intended to let science guide the fracking review regulatory process, he would have let the proposed regulations expire.

The DEC is accepting comments on the revised rules through 5 p.m. on January 11.