DEC says there will be no outside review of health impacts of hydrofracking
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BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation says the state will not ask an outside group to study the health impacts of hydrofracking before a decision is made on whether or not to lift the moratorium.
The decision is drawing reaction from those on both sides of the hydrofracking debate.
Environmental and health groups had previously called for an impact study by experts at a university school of public health.
Many fracking opponents are upset with the DEC's decision, while landowners on the other side of the spectrum say it’s an encouraging sign.
"We're glad to hear there's been an outright rejection to have an independent study done by the DEC. With all the rumors and innuendos that are going around, a private study, we feel, would have been biased and would have lasted for years," said Dan Fitzsimmons, Joint-Landowners Coalition of NY President.
"I just think it’s feared by the DEC and the governor that an outside study would bring up health issues that they wouldn't want coming out," said Kim ichels, an anti-frackign advocate.
The decision will likely add time to the DEC's review of hydrofracking.
Governor Cuomo said that he won't decide whether to allow fracking until the DEC review is completed.