The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is scheduled to release its full review of hydraulic fracturing on Friday, July 8. 

DEC Commissioner Joe Martens has said that hydrofracking is safe.The study will be posted to this DEC Web page at some point that day.

Environmental groups including NYLCV are anxiously awaiting the full documentation for the state's proposal to allow limited hydrofracking in New York. Last week, DEC announced the outline of the study's proposals and agreed to ban hydrofracking in the watersheds of New York City and Syracuse, which are unfiltered drinking-water systems.

A panel of experts -- including NYLCV Board Chair Bob Hallman and NYLCV co-founder Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. -- will assist DEC in developing recommendations to ensure government agencies are enabled to properly oversee, monitor and enforce high-volume hydraulic fracturing activities.

In related news, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens told Gannett News Services that local hydrofracking bans -- which some towns and villages in the state have passed -- would likely be challenged in court.

Some environmental groups are also questioning the wisdom of banning hydrofracking in some parts of the state, but allowing it in other areas.

DEC will start accepting public comments on its review in August.