Greenberg calls fracking a «lose - lose» situation for the governor, because whichever decision he ultimately makes, he risks angering either the
powerful gas drilling industry, or environmentalists who are part of the Democratic base.
In the oil and
gas drilling industry alone (which the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics differentiates from oil and gas production), the total number of recorded cases of nonfatal injury and illness ranged between 2,400 in 2003 and 4,700 in 2005.
Environmental groups are upset that the Department of Environmental Conservation apparently showed a copy of their hydrofracking SGEIS with the
natural gas drilling industry.
On the other side, those in favor of banning fracking describe the DEC report as a victory over
the gas drilling industry.
They also want to set up a structure of taxes and fees on
the gas drilling industry to help balance the state's budget and pay for costs incurred from the industrialization of portions of upstate New York.
Brian McMahon, with the New York State Economic Development Council, a pro business and pro fracking group, believes that heritage tourism and
the gas drilling industry can co exist, and he says fracking industry related jobs will pay workers a much higher wage and improve the overall health of the economy.
The agency that oversees water quality and quantity in the Delaware River basin has issued proposed regulations for the natural
gas drilling industry.
«That's very, very relevant,» said Moreau, who says the jobs created by
the gas drilling industry are «high paying jobs» in the vocational trades.
Moreau says in Pennsylvania, many community colleges have developed programs to train skilled workers for
the gas drilling industry, who are almost guaranteed good jobs.
The decision to allow oil companies to use fracking in New York state is a politically touchy one, pitting environmentalists against business interests, which contend
the gas drilling industry would be a huge boost to some economically depressed areas of New York state.
The advisory committee was created to determine costs to the state for hydrofracking, and potential fees to charge
the gas drilling industry.
The gas drilling industry says it supports such research and that health concerns should be taken seriously, but that the public should be careful of jumping to conclusions.
For years, environmentalists and
the gas drilling industry have been in a pitched battle over the possible health implications of hydro fracking.
The gas drilling industry has sought to limit the disclosure of information about its operations to researchers.
It has also now been held to be wrong by the London Commercial Court in a judgment, which has had repercussions throughout the offshore oil and
gas drilling industry.
North Dakota's oil and
gas drilling industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years.