New York regulators have released the final version of an environmental impact review of shale gas development that's expected to lead to a state ban on fracking.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in December that he would defer to the judgment of his health and environmental conservation commissioners, who said they'd recommend a ban on high-volume hydraulic fracturing. Under state law, a formal decision on whether to allow or ban fracking will come 10 days after the environmental review's release on Wednesday.
The environmental review that was launched in 2008 drew more than 260,000 comments over the course of several revisions. No shale gas wells have been permitted during that time.
A state health study released in December found "significant uncertainty" over whether safety measures could adequately protect public health.
