New York State's environmental advocates aren't getting everything they wanted for Christmas, but they did just get a nice present from Governor David Paterson yesterday: an executive order banning all horizontal drilling with hydrofracking in the state until July 1, 2011.
Paterson issued the order after vetoing a moratorium bill passed by the state legislature, which would have ceased all new permits for hydrofracking wells, both horizontal and vertical, until May 15. From the Albany Times-Union:
During a radio interview first aired Friday on WAMC, the governor said he was concerned the ban would cover not only horizontal drilling, but vertical drilling, which is already in use across New York. According to Paterson, it is "not nearly the intrusive threat to the environment" as the horizontal variety of hydrofracking.
The news comes on the heels of proposed new fracking regulations by the Delaware River Basin Commission, a regional regulatory agency that oversees the Delaware River watershed in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Those proposed rules were promulgated by three of the four governors that make up the commission.
Governor Paterson objected, stating in a letter that they “could well conflict with the technical and regulatory protocols ultimately adopted in New York, causing confusion, duplication, redundant regulatory fee assessments, differing regulations in different locations and possible mismanagement.”
