New York's Coming Ban on Fracking: Victory or Defeat?

New York state will prohibit fracking, citing a long list of public health and environmental concerns.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has been studying the issue for six years, and today it received the last thing it was waiting for—a report from the Department of Health.

“I have considered all of the data and find significant questions and risks to public health which as of yet are unanswered,” said Acting DOH Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker, announcing his department’s findings at a meeting today of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s cabinet. “I think it would be reckless to proceed in New York until more authoritative research is done. I asked myself, ‘would I let my family live in a community with fracking?’ The answer is no. I therefore cannot recommend anyone else’s family to live in such a community either.”

As a result, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said he will issue a legally binding findings statement that will prohibit HVHF in New York State at this time.

Reaction from environmental groups was immediate. Ossining-based Riverkeeper, which has been at the forefront of the fight for clean drinking water in all of the state as well as the Hudson Valley, issued this statement:

What a victory for New York’s water and public health. Thank you, Governor Cuomo, DEC Commissioner Martens and Acting Health Commissioner Zucker, for allowing the science showing the harms of fracking to be the basis for New York State DEC’s decision to prohibit fracking. And thanks to all of the health care professionals, scientists, elected officials, community activists and grassroots groups who worked so hard to make sure the right decision was made.

However, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, the unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor against Cuomo this fall, saw it differently:

New York’s future just got bleaker with Governor Cuomo’s decision today to ban natural gas exploration in this state. For more than two years, the Governor has played politics with the economic futures of thousands of New Yorkers who are losing hope in a state with the highest taxes and worst economic outlook in the nation.

Natural gas exploration is being done safely in 35 other states under both Democrat and Republican governors. It’s supported by President Obama and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, through guidelines already outlined by the EPA and other regulatory agencies. This ‘study’ is nothing more than a political document.

Natural gas is not only the key to transforming New York’s economy through the creation of thousands of jobs, it also would provide cleaner, cheaper energy, and independence from foreign oil. New York is blessed to have an abundance of this natural resource. It’s a shame Governor Cuomo won’t exhibit the leadership to do anything with it.