Jun 29, 2015:
The state of New York released its formal, nearly 7-year study on fracking, making the statewide ban official.
N.Y. Officially Bans Fracking With Release of Seven-Year Study | Bloomberg News
Jun 4, 2015:
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a news release entitled "EPA Releases Draft Assessment on the Potential Impacts to Drinking Water Resources from Hydraulic Fracturing Activities" which documents the results of it's hydraulic fracturing study.
The report concludes that hydraulic fracturing activities in the U.S. "are carried out in a way that have not led to widespread, systemic impacts on drinking water resources", but that there are "potential vulnerabilities in the water lifecycle that could impact drinking water".
Tom Mailey, a spokesman for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, said that New York's review of the risks of fracking was more comprehensive than the federal review, and that the state review "identified many potential significant adverse impacts".
E.P.A. fracking report may complicate Cuomo ban | Politico
U.S. EPA Releases Hydraulic Fracturing Study Draft Assessment 2015 | Health and Wellness Resource
Dec 18, 2014:
Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state of New York will officially ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing, also know as fracking.
Based on comments he made, Cuomo seems to have based his decision to a great extent on the results of a New York State Department of Health study entitled "A Public Health Review of High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing for Shale Gas Development".
That study concluded the following:
- Because of the nature of HVHF (High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing), a guarantee of absolute public safety is not possible.
- HVHF activity has resulted in environmental impacts that are potentially adverse to public health.
- The current scientific information regarding HVHF is insufficient to determine with confidence that the overall risk to public health is sufficiently low.
That study also documented the following environmental impacts and health outcomes potentially associated with HVHF activities:
- Air impacts that could affect respiratory health due to increased levels of particulate matter, diesel exhaust, or volatile organic chemicals.
- Climate change impacts due to methane and other volatile organic chemical releases to the atmosphere.
- Drinking water impacts from underground migration of methane and/or fracking chemicals associated with faulty well construction.
- Surface spills potentially resulting in soil and water contamination.
- Surface water contamination resulting from inadequate wastewater treatment.
- Earthquakes induced during fracturing.
- Community impacts associated with boom town economic effects such as increased vehicle traffic, road damage, noise, odor complaints, increased demand for housing and medical care, and stress.
Citing Health Risks, Cuomo Bans Fracking in New York State | The New York Times
New York Gov. Gets Kudos, Scorn After Fracking Ban | The Huffington Post