A landowners' group is challenging the state's delay in finishing its environmental analysis on the potential impact of drilling for natural gas through hydraulic fracturing in New York.
The suit was filed on behalf of the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York claiming 70,000 members and owners of two Broome County properties. One had and one was seeking a drilling permit, both blocked from proceeding.
The suit, filed in state Supreme Court in Albany, seeks to compel the Department of Environmental Conservation to complete its environmental statement after five years, claiming the DEC has abused its discretion and Gov. Andrew Cuomo is orchestrating the delay.
The state Health Department is studying the human impact from hydrofracking at DEC's request.
Cuomo says the science will determine how New York proceeds.
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