© 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

Drillers impatient with slow pace of fracking review

Gas drilling companies in New York state says they’re “exhausted” by a more than four-year long review process on whether to allow hydrofracking in New York, that they say they now fear will drag on into 2013.

The head of the Independent Oil and Gas Association has written a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, expressing dismay at the latest step in the over four year fracking review process.   The administration has appointed three outside experts to review health data on possible impacts of fracking before a years-long environmental review process can be finished.

In a letter, the drillers who have ben cooperating with the review, say their “trust in government is exhausted.”

IOGA President Brad Gill writes in the letter that “the unnecessary delay in concluding this rulemaking process is a serious problem for the upstate economy.”

“The upstate economy is dying,” says IOGA spokesman Jim Smith. “This is on the of things that can save New York.” The drillers say they wonder what their future is in New York, and ask Cuomo for an encouraging signal.

Environmental groups support the idea of a health review, though they say they wish they were given more details. 

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.