New York State Senate Bill S 6892: April 4, 2012: “The High-volume Hydraulic Fracturing Waste Tracking Program”

The passage of New York State Senate Bill 6892-2011, the High-volume Hydraulic Fracturing Waste Tracking Program is necessary to establish a foundation for regulation on forthcoming natural gas extraction from the Marcellus basin in New York State. While a moratorium currently restricts fracturing activity in New York, enticing economic implications that imply development of these resources is imminent. New York State Senate Bill 6892-2011 addresses concerns of environmental contamination caused by hydraulic fracturing, however, uncertainties still linger. This report provides thorough analysis of the science associated with high-volume hydraulic fracturing, and provides recommendations for subsequent policy and research. New York State Senate Bill 6892 is an important advancement towards a solution for safer extraction recognizing that natural gas is rising as a predominant national energy resource.