CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

The state Department of Environmental Conservation says an updated version of its environmental impact study on natural gas production in the Marcellus Shale region is ready to be released for public comment.

Spokeswoman Emily DeSantis says the 1,000-plus page document will be released late Wednesday morning. DEC officials have said there will be a 60-day public comment period following the release, although environmental groups and some politicians have called for a 180-day comment period because of the technical complexity of the study.

The report outlines New York's rules for natural gas drilling using high-volume hydraulic fracturing, which injects chemical-laced water at high pressure into a well to crack surrounding shale and release gas.

Permitting has been on hold for three years while the study was being done.