The decision, which has been announced by New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration, follows a report which highlights that the oil and gas extraction method causes significant health risks.
New York environmental commissioner Joseph Martens is due to issue an order to ban fracking by early 2015, reports Reuters.
The new agency cited New York State health commissioner Howard Zucker as saying that there is not enough scientific information to conclude that fracking is safe.
"The potential risks are too great, in fact not even fully known, and relying on the limited data presently available would be negligent on my part," Zucker said.
Commenting on the ban, API New York State petroleum council executive director Karen Moreau said Cuomo acted irresponsibly by issuing a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing, putting the state’s economy on a reckless path and ignoring the needs of New York families, economic opportunity, job creation, revenue to the government, and the country’s need for energy security.
"Robust regulations exist at the federal and state levels nationwide for natural gas development and environmental protection.
"A politically motivated and equally misinformed ban on a proven technology used for over 60 years, throughout the country to great success, is short-sighted and reckless, particularly when New York depends on safely produced natural gas just over the border in Pennsylvania."
