© 2024 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cuomo says conflicting studies make it hard to draw conclusion on fracking

Ellen Abbott
/
WRVO file photo
Hydrofracking protesters rally against the controversial natural gas drilling process at the New York State Fair. (file photo)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo made some of his most extensive comments on the controversial topic of hydrofracking to date.

For the past two years, ever since the governor asked his health department to conduct a health review, Cuomo has had little to say about the review, or even what was being studied. He would only say that the work was continuing.

Cuomo now says it is a challenge for his administration to hurry a decision, because there is new and often conflicting evidence emerging every day.

“You can get academics in reports saying it’s totally safe, and the next week you get a report that says it’s the most dangerous thing since a nuclear explosion,” said Cuomo “It’s become a very highly politicized, highly emotional, highly opinionated topic.”

Cuomo says his health experts don’t bring any bias to their work, and he’ll follow whatever advice they ultimately give him, but he says the review won’t be concluded before Election Day.

Karen DeWitt is Capitol Bureau Chief for New York State Public Radio, a network of 10 public radio stations in New York State. She has covered state government and politics for the network since 1990.