NYS Hydrofracking Moratorium In Place Until June 2012

Albany, NY (WIBX) - A one year moratorium on hydrofracking passed the state senate this week. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, (D-Manhattan) says it's about erring on the side of caution because there are still too many unknowns about the process that injects chemicals and highly pressurized water into underground rock formations to extract natural gas.

Silver said, "There are too many unanswered questions and too little peer reviewed research to satisfy our need for knowledge by the 1st of July or anytime in the very near future. Frankly, there's too much at stake not to err on the side of caution. Let me be crystal clear, we are profoundly sympathetic to the needs of our struggling upstate economy and we are working everyday to spur the creation of upstate jobs." He says hydrofracking could potentially threaten vital drinking water supplies.

The bill, approved June 6, suspends hydrofracking operations in the state until June 1, 2012, in order to allow more time for health and environmental safety concerns surrounding the practice to be thoroughly examined.