Sen. Tony Avella, D-Queens, is requesting a sit-down with Gov. Andrew Cuomo and scientists to discuss what he considers to be the dangers of high-volume hydrofracking.

In a letter sent today to the governor’s office, Avella reminds the governor of his comments in Utica that the Department of Environmental Conservation should be ”talking to everyone” who has an opinion the controversial natural-gas extraction process.

Avella has been especially concerned with DEC regulators sharing information on possible draft guidelines for hydrofracking with gas industry officials.

I respectfully submit that it is now time to expand that review and information sharing to include the numerous medical professionals, scientists and environmentalist who have repeatedly stated their willingness to engage in this process. Many of these professionals have spent tremendous amounts of time and resources to provide both the administration and DEC with scientific data raising their professional concerns about the safety of hydrofracking. Yet inexplicably there has been virtually no return outreach from either your staff or DEC staff to engage in detailed conversations with these respected members of the medical and scientific communities.

The letter comes after Avella and Senate Democrats held a public forum in New York City that was sharply critical of hydrofracking.

It also comes after Avella wondered outloud on Capital Tonight this week whether Cuomo can still be considered a true Democrat, given his not ruling out endorsements of Republican Senate candidates. Avella also said that if Senate Democrats were to gain the majority in the chamber they would push through his bill that would ban high-volume fracking in New York.

Here is the full letter:

Avella Letter to Cuomo-Hydrofracking Meeting

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