The New York Department of Environmental Conservation on Monday released its long-awaiting findings on hydraulic fracturing making official the state’s ban on the practice.
The finding came after a seven-year review during which time fracking in New York was on hold.
The ban took effect immediately and applies to any oil or gas wells that require more than 300,000 gallons of water to frack.
“After years of exhaustive research and examination of the science and facts, prohibiting high-volume hydraulic fracturing is the only reasonable alternative," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said.
"High-volume hydraulic fracturing poses significant adverse impacts to land, air, water, natural resources and potential significant public health impacts that cannot be adequately mitigated,” Martens said.
Fracking pumps huge volumes of water, sand and chemicals under high pressure into shale formations to allow trapped reserves of oil and gas to flow to the surface.