* Governor's office calls report "baseless"
* Moratorium due to expire on Friday
(Adds details, background)
NEW YORK, June 30 (Reuters) - New York state Governor
Andrew Cuomo is expected to lift a moratorium on the
controversial natural gas extraction technique known as
hydraulic fracturing, The New York Times reported on Thursday.
Such a move could open the state to a gas drilling boom
similar to what is happening in neighboring Pennsylvania, and
it would certainly raise opposition from environmentalists who
believe "fracking" or "hydrofracking" pollutes drinking water.
A spokesman for Governor Andrew Cuomo, Joshua Vlasto,
called the report "baseless speculation and premature."
In a nod to fracking opponents, state officials were
considering maintaining ban in sensitive areas such as the
massive watershed in upstate New York that provides drinking
water to millions of people in New York City, the Times said,
citing people briefed on the plan.
A moratorium imposed by former Governor David Paterson was
due to expire on Friday.
In June the Democratic-led state Assembly voted to extend
the moratorium for another year, but the Republican-led Senate
never passed the measure, leaving in place the July 1 deadline
for the state's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
to issue a report on the examining the impacts of fracking.
DEC officials declined to discuss the report on Thursday.
It was expected to contain recommendations for the governor.
Environmental concerns have slowed a natural gas drilling
boom in shale formations such as the Marcellus Shale that lies
beneath much of Pennsylvania and several surrounding states
including New York. [ID:nN18229665]
The process involves blasting millions of gallons of water,
sand and chemicals into rock to release the gas trapped inside.
Critics say leaks of the chemicals at the surface endanger
groundwater and that escaped gas and drilling operations
pollute the air.
Industry officials say opponents have exaggerated the
environmental impact, while economic benefits to the state
would be significant. New York is home to a large piece of the
Marcellus Shale, a massive formation believed to be one of the
richest natural gas deposits on the planet.
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