Cuomo: Fracking Faces Legal Challenges

Governor Andrew Cuomo is suggesting there's not likely to be any fracking in the Marcellus Shale of New York state very soon.

In an interview with Fred Dicker on Albany radio station WGDJ on Monday, Cuomo said the Department of Environmental Conservation review is ongoing because the issues are getting "more complicated."

The DEC has been reviewing more than 66,000 comments on proposed regulations for high-volume hydraulic fracturing.

The governor said the fate of fracking likely will be tied in the courts for an extended time.

Cuomo said the DEC must work to ensure that its proposed regulations are "well grounded" and that they'll stand up to the expected legal challenges.

The governor said there's no connection between the upcoming elections and when the agency will announce its plan. He said the regulators will announce their determination "whenever they are ready."

It's been reported Cuomo may support limiting initial fracking permits to Broome, Tioga and three other Southern Tier counties.