In several recent remarks, Governor Andrew Cuomo has indicated that the long-delayed health study of hydraulic fracturing by the New York State Department of Health will be released before the end of 2014. Speaking Monday on the Capital Pressroom radio show, Cuomo referred to pending decisions on natural gas development and casinos, stating that “by the end of the year we should have positions on both that are clear and we’ll start the new year with some major decisions under our belt, so to speak.” Likewise, last Friday, Cuomo told reporters that he expected the health study to be completed before the end of the year. At least one media outlet has noted that Monday’s statement is the first indication that the release of the health study will come along with the state’s “final position.” These comments, however, leave everyone guessing as to what the “final position” will be, what form the “final position” will take, and what all of this means for the pending environmental impact statement and proposed regulations, which have been on the shelf for several years.
