Cuomo: Still no date to decide fracking for gas

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he expects to end years-long deliberations about whether New York should allow hydraulic fracturing for natural gas by Election Day next year— maybe.

The Democrat, who is seeking re-election, cautions that he doesn’t want even that ballpark estimate to pressure his staff into a decision.

Cuomo’s health commissioner, Dr. Nirav Shah, had said in March that he planned to make his critical recommendation to Cuomo “within weeks.”

But Shah said Monday he is examining new health studies.

Shah wouldn’t disclose details of how those and other studies he’s cited are informing his department’s work because he says “science is sacred.” He says there will be transparency about the process only after the decision is made.

New York has had a moratorium on the technology known as “fracking” since 2008.