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Drilling moratorium passes N.Y. Senate

ALBANY, N.Y. - While environmental groups celebrated passage of a gas-drilling moratorium in the state Senate, an industry group said Wednesday it needlessly delays work already held up for two years during an environmental review.

    by By Mary Esch, Associated Press, Inquirer
    Published 

ALBANY, N.Y. - While environmental groups celebrated passage of a gas-drilling moratorium in the state Senate, an industry group said Wednesday it needlessly delays work already held up for two years during an environmental review.

The measure, passed late Tuesday night, would ban hydraulic fracturing in deep, horizontal gas wells until May 15, 2011. The aim is to allow more time for the Department of Environmental Conservation to finish its review and new permitting guidelines.

Hydraulic fracturing has come under scrutiny since gas exploration companies started using it in the Marcellus Shale formation that lies beneath southern New York, Pennsylvania, and parts of West Virginia and Ohio.

The Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York said the state bill blocks permits not only in the Marcellus Shale, but also in other shale areas of the state where drilling has been allowed to continue during the review.