New York bans hydraulic fracturing over health risks

The US state of New York has decided to not to go ahead with hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, over health risks.

The decision by New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration follows a report, which revealed that the extraction method of oil and gas causes significant health risks.

An order will be issued by early 2015 by New York environmental commissioner Joseph Martens to ban fracking.

New York State health commissioner Howard Zucker was quoted by Reuters as saying that there is not enough scientific information to conclude that fracking is safe.

"The potential risks are too great, in fact not even fully known, and relying on the limited data presently available would be negligent on my part," Zucker said.

Commenting on the ban, API New York State petroleum council executive director Karen Moreau said Cuomo acted irresponsibly by issuing a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing, putting the state’s economy on a reckless path and ignoring the needs of New York families, economic opportunity, job creation, revenue to the government, and the country’s need for energy security.

"Robust regulations exist at the federal and state levels nationwide for natural gas development and environmental protection, " Moreau said.

"A politically motivated and equally misinformed ban on a proven technology used for over 60 years, throughout the country to great success, is short-sighted and reckless, particularly when New York depends on safely produced natural gas just over the border in Pennsylvania."