The chief concerns for the people of New York are the health hazards that come with high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), especially for those living across the vast Southern Tier area of the state, where a majority of the drilling would take place.
The decision is long awaited, having been delayed by the Cuomo administration since 2008. Pressed from environmentalists on one side, and oil companies on the other, Cuomo has repeatedly said that he was reserving judgment until the Health Department completed its report on the matter. The report’s findings were released Wednesday.
— Stanford Energy (@StanfordEnergy) December 17, 2014
Since 2008, several towns and cities across the state have adopted individual bans on fracking by enacting zoning regulations.
Due to this kind of strong opposition, fracking may not have even been economically desirable.
“I’d say the prospects for HVHF development in New York are uncertain at best,” Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens said earlier this month.
“Given the wide-ranging potential or increased local regulation of HVHF, the extensive and growing number of restrictions that the state was considered and the increased cost of mitigation, the economic benefits are clearly far lower than originally forecast.”
Fracking advocates have argued that allowing companies to drill could create jobs and strengthen the struggling economy that rests along the Southern Tier. As a compromise, Cuomo had considered the idea of approving a limited fracking policy back in 2012, but today’s announcement puts an end to that proposal.
Fracking involves pumping large volumes of chemically-infused water deep underground in order to break the shale and release natural gas. The possible leak of these chemicals into the air and groundwater is what worries state health officials.
“I consider the people of the state of New York as my patients,” said Acting Health Commissioner Howard Zucker. “We cannot afford to make a mistake. The potential risks are too great. In fact, they are not fully known.”
Environmental groups, who have shown up in force to protest fracking, agree.
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) December 17, 2014
Earlier this month, Governor Cuomo said that “all things being equal, [he] will be bound by what the experts say.”
True to form, Cuomo said today that the decision was made by his commissioners.
