The Associated Press

ALBANY, N.Y. — A coalition of 65 state lawmakers is asking Gov. Andrew Cuomo to release the Department of Environmental Conservation's review of potential health impacts of shale gas drilling for public comment before deciding whether to allow drilling to begin.

ALBANY, N.Y. — State regulators claim a strong record of oil and gas drilling oversight, but their own reports reveal thousands of unplugged abandoned wells and other industrial problems that could pose a threat to groundwater, wetlands, air quality and public safety.

Annual reports and incident reports prepared by Department of Environmental Conservation staff and reviewed by The Associated Press run counter to the agency's long-stated assertion that the types of problems reported in other states have been prevented in New York by strong regulations.

Walter Hang, who owns a consulting business that tracks toxic sites for property investors and other clients, said he believes Cuomo "listens a great deal to his biggest campaign contributors, many of whom are intensely involved in governmental affairs."

"If he hears from these contributors," Hang said, "it may be a more powerful message than when he hears from ordinary citizens."

ALBANY -- It turns out that after months of self-congratulatory backslapping over finally steering New York away from fiscal crisis, the sky is falling again.

And for many lobbyists and politicians in Albany, that's just perfect.

ALBANY, N.Y. - The new head of New York's Department of Environmental Conservation believes
that gas drilling in the massive Marcellus Shale formation is the most daunting environmental issue the
agency has faced in its 40-year history, and he's hopeful rules will soon be in place to address the
potential impact.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Joe Martens said DEC staff will meet twice
each week starting in early April and through the summer to complete a new environmental impact

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Rep. Maurice Hinchey told a federal hearing Monday that the Environmental Protection Agency must regulate hydraulic fracturing, the natural gas extraction process that he said has contaminated water near drilling sites around the country.

CANDOR, N.Y. - Fred Mayer has a special feature in his kitchen: a faucet that spews fire.

Mayer says that about three years ago the well supplying water to his home in Candor became polluted with natural gas.

Explosive vapors now run from his tap along with the water.

The Vietnam veteran demonstrates by holding a lighter to the running water and igniting it with a flash.

Mayer jokes that he can wash his dishes and poach an egg at the same time.