New York state failed to meet a Nov. 29 deadline to draft a new set of fracking regulations for New York, opting instead to grant a 90-day extension.

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, is a process in which high pressure fluid is injected into the ground to fracture sedimentary rocks, releasing the natural gas inside. This practice has sparked much controversy, as proponents of the method cite the abundance of energy it produces while opponents raise the environmental hazards it potentially poses.

To ensure any fracking practices in New York are safe, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo set up a panel of three nationally renowned health experts shortly before the Nov. 29 deadline to review the environmental impact assessment that has been drafted by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Until the new deadline, the department will be further working with the panel to formulate new regulations.

Though the NYDEC was not able to create new regulations, the group said it still preferred having a panel for maximum safety.

“Developing the [Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement] has been a thorough, scientific and thoughtful process over the past four years,” NYDEC spokeswoman Emily DeSantis. “If high-volume hydraulic fracturing moves forward in New York, it will do so with the strictest standards in the nation.”

The NYDEC filed the extension to continue work on the draft as the state commissioner of health reviews the SGEIS.

“DEC will not take any final action until after [the commissioner]’s health review is completed,” DeSantis said. “This action merely extends the rule making period to enable DEC to take into account [his] review.”

Julianne Lutz, an NYU environmental studies professor, stressed the importance of caution.

“The need for precaution has highest priority over an arbitrary 90-day extension,” she said. “Science and a transparent public process, which has not yet occurred, should be tools that help determine what will lead to the value of health without which money doesn’t do much good, not a rushed political process.”

Some NYU students, including Stern freshman Michael Sacco, said they agreed with the caution expressed by New York on fracking.

“I think that fracking is generally very bad for the environment, and so we should provide environmental regulations that limit fracking,” Sacco said. “But at the same time you have to consider that it is a viable source of oil and one that would help the struggling New York economy, especially in the energy industry.”

Stern freshman Max Gordon said drafting regulations should not be taking so long.

“Fracking is a pretty fast and efficient way of securing energy for the future,” Gordon said.

A version of this article appeared in the Monday, Dec. 3 print edition. Isaac Marshall is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].