The state Department of Environmental Conservation today announced that it's extending the comment period for its new Marcellus and Utica Shales natural gas drilling regulations. The comment period will now end December 31, which adds a full month.

State environmental, watchdog, and legal groups have called for an extension of the comment period. At 800-plus pages, the regulations are a lot to take in. Shale drilling is also a complicated issue that has the potential to cause significant environmental and public health problems if done incorrectly, they've said.

The document and information on how to comment are here.