Although fracking, the best-known term for the controversial gas drilling procedure that's been a major environmental issue throughout the region this year, has slipped from the front pages following last week's state Assembly vote in favor of a statewide moratorium on such activity into May, and outgoing governor David Paterson's expected signing of that decision into law over the coming weeks, environmentalists and concerned citizens are pointing out that much is still happening in regards to the issue behind closed doors. As well as in neighboring states and on a federal level. The Watershed Post has a compendium story on draft regulations released by the Delaware River Basin Commission's issuance of its long-awaited draft regulations for the development of gas drilling within the river's watershed, which includes parts of Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. which shows both environmentalists and New York City crying foul... calling the release "a black day for the Delaware" while drilling proponents have started talking about how they are "moving the process forward." The regulations -- which some see as an arbiter of what's tgo come from our own state's Department of Environmental Conservation -- won't require a cumulative impact study of the wells before they're drilled, currently being undertaken by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Even though top geologists point out that there are no gas deposits under our region, the issue has gained strength as it raises health and safety issues relevant to many of New York's top urban areas, including the New York City watershed.

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