Bowing to pressure from environmental groups and the public, the state's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is extending the public comment period on its draft hydrofracking regulations.
The agency announced the move Wednesday afternoon's public hearing in New York City.
"Many individuals and organizations requested additional time to prepare comments," DEC spokeswoman Emily DeSantis said in an email to the Innovation Trail. "We have decided to extend the comment period by 30 days to Jan. 11, [2012]."
DeSantis says the extended deadline for comments won't set back the agency as it prepares its SGEIS on hydrofracking in New York State.
In another email, DeSantis says the agency still plans on "releasing final docs sometime in 2012."
