The Assembly is pushing a plan that would $100,000 to the state budget for a review of the health impacts of hydrofracking, a move that has environmental groups cheering.

“New York State has to date failed to take a hard look at the health impacts of fracking,” said Katherine Nadeau, the Environmental Advocates of New York Water & Natural Resources Program Director. “By calling for an independent study of fracking’s health impacts, the Assembly is leading the charge to provide state leaders with the science necessary to make informed decisions. Environmental Advocates of New York applauds the Assembly and calls on Governor Cuomo and the State Senate to do the same in the enacted budget.”

Putting the money in the resolution will apply pressure to both Senate Republicans and Gov. Andrew Cuomo on the issue.

Cuomo has said wants to allow the Department of Environmental Conservation to complete its review of high-volume fracking before any drilling permits are issued.

The DEC has been working with reduced staff over the last several years and Commissioner Joe Martens has said he would only be able to issue as many hydrofracking permits as his department can handle.

Environmental groups have long issued concerns that hydrofracking harms water quality. But business groups say it can be a boon for the economically distressed Southern Tier region of the state were natural gas reserves are located.

The one-house resolutions from the Senate and Assembly aren’t publicly available yet, but details are leaking out. The Associated Press has two scoops this afternoon finding that the Assembly is restoring anti-smoking funding. Both the Senate and Assembly are seeking a $200 million restoration in school aid.

A Senate source confirmed the Legislature was seeking the school aid restoration this afternoon.

The Republican-led Senate last week issued a news release that had an overview of its one-house budget proposal, which largely concentrated on a spending cap and job-creation tax credits.

The bills are essentially lines in the sand for the chambers to negotiate their budget priorities.

Fracking Bill

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