NYSDEC Cancels Fracking Advisory Panel Meeting, Environmental Advocates of New York Responds

ALBANY, NY (10/14/2011)(readMedia)-- In response to the announcement that New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation is canceling today's meeting of the Fracking Advisory Panel, Environmental Advocates of New York's Executive Director Robert Moore released the following statement:

"Today's Fracking Advisory Panel meeting was canceled because New York's Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Public Service Commission and Department of Agriculture and Markets have not completed estimates of the demands that drilling 1,400 new gas wells each year will place on their agencies in terms of staff and resources.

Clearly, state agencies are caught flat-flooted by Governor Cuomo's rush to drill. We're less than two months from closing the simultaneous comment periods on the environmental impact statement, regulations and draft permit, and the Governor and New York State's agencies still don't know how many tens of millions of dollars this industry will cost the state.

This is further evidence that New York is unprepared to provide responsible oversight of fracking and guarantee that our drinking water and communities are protected."

Environmental Advocates of New York's mission is to protect our air, land, water and wildlife and the health of all New Yorkers. Based in Albany, we monitor state government, evaluate proposed laws, and champion policies and practices that will ensure the responsible stewardship of our shared environment. We work to support and strengthen the efforts of New York's environmental community and to make our state a national leader. Visit www.eany.org to learn more.