Paterson halts form of natural gas drilling

Gov. David A. Paterson yesterday 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 and 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.

While Pennsylvania is experiencing a gas drilling boom with widespread fracking in the multistate Marcellus Shale formation, New York has been more cautious, saying the economic benefits must be weighed against environmental concerns.

Paterson leaves office at the end of the month, and opponents and proponents have already begun lobbying his successor, Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo, due to be sworn in Jan. 1.

High-volume hydraulic fracturing involves blasting millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals into deep shale rock to free the gas trapped inside.

A coalition of 12 environmental groups said Paterson's move protects public health and drinking water supplies. But they said it also creates a loophole by allowing other forms of onshore drilling.

The natural gas industry had vigorously opposed the moratorium passed by the legislature, saying it would have halted most oil and gas drilling currently allowed in addition to high-volume fracking. - Reuters