New York governor halts gas "fracking" until July

[phantom power]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York Governor David Paterson on Saturday halted a controversial form of natural gas drilling in the state until July and ruled no such drilling take place until environmental regulators deem it safe.

The industry and environmentalists -- normally rivals on the issue -- both applauded Paterson's executive order, which stops all horizontal, high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," while calling for further study of that method's impact on drinking water.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation will conduct a "comprehensive review an analysis," Paterson said.

At the same time, he vetoed a bill passed by the state legislature that would have placed a moratorium on fracking plus all conventional, low-volume, vertical oil and gas drilling until May 15.

The order allows conventional drilling to continue, that designated for low-volume or vertical oil and gas wells.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101212/us_nm/us_natgas_newyork

[tech9413]

1. Good move Mr Paterson!

Here in W Pa Pittsburgh did the same thing, but not limited to a time frame. Just east of us their are many homes that can't use their water because of contamination that just sort of happened after they started drilling. I could drive a mile circle around my house and see a dozen well sites that have been done in the last few years. I don't think they're fracking jobs but the noise and lights 24/7 should justify some compensation.