The Environmental Advocates of New York are renewing their efforts to review the health impact study of the controversial natural gas extraction process.

The group in September had filed a Freedom of Information Law request to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health.

The DOH has hired three experts from universities around the country to review the possibility of allowing hydrofracking in parts of the state.

The state must complete its review and proposed regulations by Nov. 29 or the process is re-opened to public comment.

But the group says that even though the DEC has completed its study and referring its health findings to the DOH, the administration “continues to block” the public from having some input on the process. The organization was told in a response frequent FOILers have come to expect: the promise of a “diligent search” for records.

EANY says the request, which also included interagency correspondence, won’t be responded to until January 25 of next year.

“As a result, no one knows who completed the DEC’s study, what factors the DOH has considered in its initial review, and whether these three experts will truly have the independence and autonomy they need and deserve to do the job right,” said Katherine Nadeau, the group’s Water & Natural Resources Program Director. :From a Governor who promised transparency, this is anything but. We maintain that a comprehensive Health Impact Assessment—an established process for studying the health impacts of an action, including public and stakeholder input, and identifying ways to protect the public—should be conducted. If the administration continues to object to a comprehensive assessment, they should at least ensure transparency and independence within the process they have begun.”

Eany Foil Request

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