New York to Seek Three-Month Extension on Fracking Regulations

Nov. 27 (Bloomberg)-- New York state will seek a 90-day extension of the Nov. 29 deadline to develop fracking rules, which would reopen a public-comment period, said Emily DeSantis, a spokeswoman for the Environmental Conservation Department

The extension, if granted by the Office of Administrative Hearings, would allow Health Commissioner Nirav Shah time to analyze the issue with the help of an outside panel, whose members were chosen this month, DeSantis said in an e-mailed statement. The study, ordered in September by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration, caused New York to miss the deadline.

The state has been studying hydraulic fracturing for more than four years and issued a moratorium in 2010 so regulators could conduct an environmental review and develop rules. By requesting the extension, the DEC avoids restarting the entire review process.

To contact the reporter on this story: Freeman Klopott in Albany at fklopott@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Schoifet at mschoifet@bloomberg.net