CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

A government watchdog group says it will deliver to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's offices in Albany and Manhattan a petition signed by thousands of New Yorkers urging protection of drinking water from the natural gas drilling procedure called hydraulic fracturing.

The New York Public Interest Research Group says later Tuesday it will present Cuomo's offices at the state Capitol and in New York City with a petition signed by more than 10,000 New Yorkers who want the state to protect New York's drinking water sources from the gas drilling method known as fracking.

The process involves pumping millions of gallons of chemically treated water deep underground to break up shale and free natural gas.

Opponents of fracking say it sends polluted water into rivers and streams. Gas industry officials insist fracking is safe.

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