NORWICH – Even if officials decide to proceed with shale gas development in New York as anticipated in April, regulators would have a long way to go before issuing drilling permits to energy companies.

Governor Cuomo and his environmental conservation chief reportedly said last week that a decision on whether shale gas drilling will proceed in New York will be made in a couple of months.

While the news was welcomed by pro-drillers and companies that have been waiting for a regulatory framework since drilling was halted in 2008, the DEC most likely won’t be finished reviewing the tens of thousands of comments it has received on the draft regulations until much later in the year. Plus a panel created to ensure that the DEC and all other agencies and local governments involved in hydraulic fracturing activities have the adequate resources to monitor them has postponed several meetings.

DEC Press Office spokesperson Lisa King said the final Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement’s documents are expected to be released this year.

“If the final documents determine high-volume hydraulic fracturing could move forward in New York, we could begin to review permit applications after the final SGEIS and findings statement are released,” she said.