Fracking restrictions stall in divided legislature
Attempts by the New York State legislature to restrict or regulate hydraulic fracturing gas drilling, have so far met with little success. Although both houses of the legislature have hastened to proposed bills to restrict the process, neither side has managed to coordinate the effort. With just over a week left in the 2012 legislative session, there appears to be little hope for the bills. Lawmakers pointed to partisan politics as the wedge that held back the process. “I’m hopeful that they (Senate Republicans) continue to see a need to address the issue and that soon we can come to an agreement on some of the more significant issues,” said Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, a Democrat hailing from the New York City area.
Lawmakers put forth a hodgepodge of laws, ranging from those that would impose a complete ban on hydraulic fracturing, to range of restrictions on the waste generated by the process. Republicans in the Senate urged patience. The bottom line is the DEC is performing an extensive study on this issue, and people want more studies,” Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said. “They’re (DEC) going to come up with a study that will have taken over a year to perform, and I think that’s what we should be waiting for right now.”
A 40 percent chance of thunderstorms today with a high of 73. Tonight, a slight chance of rain, with a low in the lower 50s.
