With widespread potential adverse impacts of fracking recognized, and uncertain prospects for fracking in New York, it was announced today by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) that fracking (properly called hydraulic fracturing), would be banned.
The debate, always one with an emotionally charged nature, with economic benefits highlighted, was concluded at the press conference with Cuomo expressing:
“Let’s bring the emotion down and let’s ask the qualified experts. I will be bound by what the experts say.”
The officials said the potential health and environmental impacts are too great to allow fracking to proceed in the state at this time, and pointed to a dearth of studies regarding the long-term safety of hydraulic fracturing.
Today’s announcement is the culmination of a six-year review process by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The New York State Petroleum Council, a program of The American Petroleum Institute, issued a statement Wednesday calling the decision “the wrong direction for New York.” The group’s executive director, Karen Moreau, called it a “politically motivated and equally misinformed ban on a proven technology.”
In New York and elsewhere, even in the states that allow fracking, it will remain an emotionally charged area for debate.
Anti-fracking Demonstration (Flicker CC by 2.0)
The Huffington Post reports on it in detail in an article by James Gerken: “Gov. Andrew Cuomo To Ban Fracking In New York State“. Please read more about it there!
News to Share Brief source: Huff Post Green “Gov. Andrew Cuomo To Ban Fracking In New York State” by James Gerken
Image License CC by 2.0
— “American Gasland” by Marcellus Protest on Flickr
— “Activists protest fracking outside Gov. Cuomo’s office, New York” by CREDO.fracking on Flickr
Anti-fracking demonstration outside New York Governor Cuomo’s office, Third Avenue, Manhattan, NY. 9 Oct 2012. Photo Credit: Adam Welz/CREDO Action ref: 20121009_AntiFrackDemoNY-0767
