Jon Campbell

A natural gas drilling rig at in Zelienople, Pa.
(Photo: AP)


ALBANY – When Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration first said it would ban large-scale hydraulic fracturing, it was hailed as a victory for vocal environmentalists and fracking opponents and a stunning defeat for the natural-gas industry.

New York's newly official ban on large-scale hydraulic fracturing drew a predictable response: Fracking critics love it and supporters hate it.

ALBANY – The state Department of Environmental Conservation released a 2,000-page, seven-years-in-the-making report Wednesday that lays the groundwork for the state's promised ban of large-scale hydraulic fracturing.

ALBANY – For the past four months, the state Department of Environmental Conservation's staff — and attorneys — have been putting the finishing touches on a several-thousand-page document that will lay the groundwork for a statewide ban on large-scale hydraulic fracturing.

New York is about to take its next step toward a ban on large-scale hydraulic fracturing.

A several-thousand-page document that will lay out the rationale for prohibiting fracking is “being printed as we speak,” state Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens said Wednesday.

The Department of Health will pay $480 an hour for a Colorado School of Public Health expert to assess the state’s hydrofracking review.

The payment to the school will be capped at $12,000, according to a copy of the contract obtained by Gannett’s Albany Bureau.

ALBANY – After more than six years of review, fracking is on the outs in New York.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration said Wednesday it will move to ban large-scale hydraulic fracturing throughout the state, citing concerns over human health risks and questioning the economic benefits of the controversial technique used to release natural gas from underground shale formations.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, shakes hands with Rob Astorino, his Republican
opponent for governor, before Cuomo speaks at the annual meeting of the Business Council
of New York State on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014.






Albany -- A new poll shows Gov. Andrew Cuomo maintaining a wide lead over his Republican rival even as the Democrat's job-approval rating dipped to its lowest point.

ALBANY – Plenty has changed since Gov. Andrew Cuomo took office nearly four years ago.

Same-sex marriage has been legalized. Local property-tax increases have been capped. Income-tax brackets have been tweaked. Tougher gun-control measures are in place.

The gas-rich Marcellus Shale, however, is the same as it ever was in New York.