Marcellus Shale Press Coverage

Efforts by lawmakers and regulators to force the federal government to better police the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" have been thwarted for the past 25 years, according to an expose in the New York Times. Studies by scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on fracking have been repeatedly narrowed in scope by superiors and important findings have been removed under pressure from the industry. The news comes as the EPA is conducting a broad study of the risks of natural gas drilling with preliminary results scheduled to be delivered next year. Joining us is Walter Hang, president of Toxics Targeting, a firm that tracks environmental spills and releases across the country based in Ithaca, New York, where fracking is currently taking place.

Walter Hang is president of Toxics Targeting. He says internal documents from the EPA reveal questions about regulation of fracking.

Gov. David A. Paterson ordered state environmental officials on Monday to complete revisions to their proposed standards for a controversial type of natural-gas drilling by June and submit them to a new round of public comment.

Vestal, NY (WBNG Binghamton) One side on the natural gas drilling debate is putting the pressure on Governor David Paterson.

Members from NYPIRG, NYRAD and Binghamton University students came together to discuss plans of action.

Many say they want the governor to withdraw the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Study or SGEIS before he leaves office.

The state Assembly's vote in favor of a six-month moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, a controversial drilling technique essential to tapping the natural gas reserves of the Marcellus Shale, is drawing mixed reactions from legislators and advocates on both sides of the drilling debate.

"We already have a de facto moratorium on horizontal hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale, and as far as I'm concerned, this really was a big mistake from the beginning," said Ithaca-based anti-drilling activist Walter Hang.

ALBANY - Opponents of natural gas drilling in the Southern Tier's Marcellus Shale formation today are cheering the state Senate's approval of a short-term moratorium late Tuesday night.

The measure sailed through the Senate, 48-9. If approved by the Assembly and Gov. David Paterson, permits to drill for natural gas in the formation would be delayed until May 15, 2011.

Now focus turns to the Assembly, where supporters of the drilling moratorium believe it could be taken up soon.

Congressman Michael Arcuri focuses on fracking while meeting with voters in Oneonta.

Arcuri spoke to voters about the importance of drilling areas, and how many rigs can be set up in a mile radius.

He says New York needs to start over on addressing regulations for horizontal drilling, also called hydrofracking.

Arcuri says we must know how fracking will affect an active fault line.

The Congressman says monitoring fracking fluids is important to insure safety and keep our water clean.