New York Agency Misses Deadline for Proposed Fracking Regulations

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) missed a Wednesday, February 27th deadline to issue a final version of its proposed regulations for high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.  DEC Commissioner Joe Martens reportedly stated in early February that the regulations will not be completed until the New York State Department of Health (DOH) concludes its review of potential health impacts.  Also in early February, DOH Commissioner Nirav Shah signaled that more time was needed to complete the health study.  Missing the February 27th deadline means that DEC will need to entertain another round of public comments if the agency re-proposes the regulations.  More than 200,000 public comments were reportedly submitted in response to DEC’s proposal published on December 12, 2012.