The state's top environmental regulator said Tuesday it's "conceivable" a handful of permits could be issued this year for high-volume hydraulic fracturing, but said a final decision is "months, not years" away.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens told a panel of state lawmakers that Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 2012-13 budget proposal does not seek any funds for additional gas drilling regulators because of "the considerable work that remains before we finalize our regulatory framework."

But he acknowledged the possibility that a small number of permits could be issued in 2012 with the agency's existing staff. The amount of permits, however, would be "extremely limited," he said.

"It could only be a limited number of permits," Martens told reporters. "And that's after we get through the whole process, complete the (permitting guidelines), do the summary of comments. We've got a lot of work to do."

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