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Cuomo considers moving forward with fracking

Matt Richmond
/
WSKG

In a New York Times article published Wednesday, a plan for the first stage of hydrofracking in New York state was laid out by members of the Cuomo administration.

According to unnamed administration officials, there would be as many as 50 fracking permits issued in the first year and drilling would be confined to counties in the Southern Tier.

Speaking on the Fred Dicker radio show Thursday morning, Cuomo sketched out his position on fracking.

He said that there can’t be a plan for hydrofracking before the Department of Environmental Conservation finishes its review. But that shouldn’t stop people from considering how the industry would move into New York.

“You’re going to go ahead, what does that mean? How many, how fast, how many in the first year? What is the necessary ramp up?” said Cuomo.

Many of the details on how fracking would start in New York were previously reported in April.

Cuomo’s chief environmental regulator, Joe Martens, acknowledged then that local bans will affect where the industry starts in New York. That position seems to be reflected in Cuomo’s comments this week.

There are 100 or so local bans, most of them temporary, against hydrofracking in New York. Right now, they are all scattered above the Southern Tier counties pinpointed by Cuomo for drilling.

During Thursday’s radio interview, Cuomo left open the possibility that the bans against drilling will be respected. But he also said it’s also possible the state will eventually overturn them.

WSKG/Southern Tier reporter for the Innovation Trail.
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