Binghamton Mayor: Extend Public Comment on Fracking

1/7/2013 (Updated 11:16:09 PM)

Has there been enough talk about hydrofracking?

Not according to a  group of elected officials, including the chair of the Tompkins County Legislature and Mayors of Binghamton and Elmira.
 
They are asking Governor Cuomo to extend the latest 30-day round of public comment on fracking - slated to end Friday - to 90 days.

They say the process has been secretive and inadequate.

But fracking supporters say the group is just trying to stall the process.

"This is nothing more than another delay tactic. The health issue is totally separate from the regulations. The regulations have to be finalized. People don't realize that. But that's what it is. This is on the regs. It doesn't have to do with the health," said Dan Fitzsimmons, president of the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York.

We want this stalled for a long time. Not just 90 days. There's no question that there hasn't been enough oversight of the health impacts of this industry," said Binghamton mayor Matt Ryan.
 
Cuomo is slated to deliver his state of the state address on Wednesday, but is not expected to mention fracking.