Legislative Gazette: Stakeholders weigh in on fracking decision

After more than five years of waiting for a decision on high-volume hydraulic fracturing in New York, advocates on both sides of the argument have their answer — the Department of Health thinks it's too risky.

With the debate on fracking settled for now, reaction is pouring in from local lawmakers and advocacy groups.

At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday Dec. 17, Gov. Andrew Cuomo listened to results from a health impact study from state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker on the potential negative impacts associated with fracking.

Zucker said he asked himself if he would live in a community that allowed fracking and "the answer is no."

"Today's recommendation makes clear what we have suspected all along — that based on both internal data and outside studies this practice would be harmful to our environment and our citizens," said Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein, D-Bronx.

"I am ecstatic with the DEC and DOH's conclusions. As part of what has been the largest grassroots movement in history, I have long emphasized the possible health risks, as well as the grave environmental dangers at stake here, and it is great to see that today, the science and the people have won," said Senator Tony Avella, D-Bayside, another member of the IDC and co-chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. Avella had sponsored a fracking moratorium in the Senate that failed to pass.

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