Amid growing concerns about the environmental impact that a method used to extract natural gas might have on Upstate New York, the State Senate called for a halt until mid-May 2011.
Here's an excerpt:
The New York State Senate voted 48 to 9 Tuesday night to issue a temporary moratorium on a type of natural gas exploration that combines hydraulic fracturing with horizontal drilling and the injection of millions of gallons of chemically treated water underground. The aim of the measure is to ensure an adequate review of safety and environmental concerns.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation is currently reviewing the environmental impact of drilling in upstate New York, where natural gas companies are buying up leases and applying for permits to tap the Marcellus Shale, one of the largest natural gas fields in North America.
The moratorium proposed in the bill would prevent new drilling permits from being issued for the Marcellus Shale until May 15, 2011.
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