Cuomo concludes fracking is too risky for New York

Scott Waldman
ALBANY—A long-awaited study released by the Cuomo administration on Wednesday determined several "red flags" about hydraulic fracturing that could pose "significant public health risks," officials said at a public meeting of Governor Andrew Cuomo and his cabinet.

The governor's announcement, articulated by his acting Department of Health commissioner Howard Zucker and Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner Joe Martens, delays any potential gas drilling in New York State for at least several more years as more data becomes available.

"The evidence in the studies we reviewed raised public health concerns," Zucker said. "There are many red flags because there are questions that remain unanswered from lack of scientific analysis, specifically longitudinal studies of [fracking]."

"The science isn't here," Zucker continued. "But the cumulative concerns based on the information I have read ... gives me reason to pause."

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/12/8558732/cuomo-concludes-fracking-too-risky-new-york