Statement re: Governor Cuomo's Appointment of Review Panel for DEC Fracking Study

Attributable to Katherine Nadeau, Water & Natural Resources Program Director

ALBANY, NY (11/15/2012)(readMedia)-- "We know that Mr. Adgate, Ms. Goldman, and Mr. Jackson have an enormous task in front of them in their review of the Department of Environmental Conservation's already-completed study on the public health impacts of fracking. All New Yorkers can be thankful for their willingness to take on the critically important and complicated public health concerns.

But the public has not received details about this process from the administration, nor been able to access the information this review panel is to assess.

Additionally, in light of Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath, it is vital that local public health and medical professionals have the opportunity to provide feedback, suggestions, and concerns.

We continue to call on the state to perform a comprehensive public Health Impact Assessment. And to ensure the credibility of this study, strongly encourage the administration and the governor's appointees to undertake a more open and transparent process that fully involves the public."

###