These 2013 file photos show New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, in Albany, N.Y. and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Dallas, Texas. People familiar with Cuomo's thinking on fracking tell The Associated Press he was on the brink of approving the much-debated gas drilling method in February 2013 but held off after discussions with environmentalist and former brother-in-law, Kennedy. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
NY Assembly passes its moratorium on 'fracking'
Published: 11:48:16 PM, Wed 06 March 2013 UTC
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's Assembly has voted to suspend until 2015 any action on allowing gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing, which environmentalists fear threatens the public's health.
The Assembly vote on Wednesday follows a bill introduced Wednesday in the Senate, which would put off the decision by Gov. Andrew Cuomo for up to two years.
Each house wants to provide time for the Cuomo administration to consider state, federal, university and private sector studies. Key among them is a health review in Pennsylvania known as the Geisinger study that will compare data about residents near gas drilling wells before and after the process was allowed.
Cuomo has said he'll await recommendations from his health and environmental conservation departments. He has not set a deadline for that process.
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