NYS Taking Comment On Revised Gas Drilling Rules

Albany, N.Y. (AP) – New York state regulators will begin taking public comments on revised gas-drilling rules this week, but an extensive environmental review outlining the basis for those rules remains incomplete.

Health and environmental groups have criticized Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Department of Environmental Conservation for issuing the revised regulations before completing a health review or releasing a final version of a massive environmental impact study initiated in 2008. The state has had a moratorium on shale gas development since the study began.

Gas industry representatives say the revised regulations are stricter than those proposed in September 2011 and ignore numerous industry requests for changes to provisions they consider arbitrary and inflexible.

The revised regulations include new water-testing requirements, public input on permits and enhanced chemical disclosure.