New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's administration announced on Wednesday that they would ban hydraulic fracturing or fracking in the New York state because of many health risks it entails. This will end years of debate over this method of extracting natural gas from the earth.
Fracking is a method wherein they drill down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. It is the process of extracting natural gas from shale rock layers deep within the earth. Hence, natural gas is produced.
This method became a source of economic growth for communities in New York. The governor is very positive on the good effects of fracking on their economy. "I've never had anyone say to me, 'I believe fracking is great,' " he said. "Not a single person in those communities. What I get is, 'I have no alternative but fracking."
However, their move to ban it was rooted on its uncertain health effects. The moratorium lasted for six years and they concluded that it can indeed cause serious health effects that would predispose their constituents to. New York is the largest region to ban the said practice.
Governor Cuomo announced the decision after the release of a report from the state health department earlier this week. The study shows the potential health effects of fracking that warrant a ban in order to protect the health of the citizens of New York.
According to state health commissioner Howard Zucker in a presentation, "We don't have the evidence to prove or disprove the health effects. But the cumulative concerns of what I've read give me reason to pause."
Another region which banned fracking were Vermont in 2012. Though the gases are natural, they can still cause serious health condition to humans.
