Paterson Says He Vetoed Hydrofrack Bill to Avoid Industry Shutdown

By Karen DeWitt

Albany, New York –
Governor David Paterson says he vetoed a bill imposing a moratorium on hydrofracking gas drilling in New York, saying he did not want to shut an entire industry down.

In his first comments since he vetoed the measure, Paterson says the bill was too broad, and while it would have temporarily banned the horizontal hydrofracking practice that has raised questions about environmental safety, it would also have ended so-called vertical hydrofracking, a practice Paterson says has been carried out safely in the state for decades.

"To actually shut the industry down, based on research, would be an irresponsible act of government," Paterson said.

Paterson says he believes his executive order, which would ban the horizontal hydrofracking until at least next July, will give the state's Department of Environmental Conservation more time to conduct a review of the process.