Hundreds of people packed into the Dansville middle school auditorium in rural Livingston County to be among the first to weigh in on the DEC's revised draft supplemental Generic Environmental impact statement. The document will govern how the controversial technique of high-volume hydraulic fracturing will happen in New York.

They came by the hundreds, armed with signs, press releases, even costumes; all for a for a chance to have their final opinions on the 3½ year debate over drilling for natural gas in New York heard.

"We respectfully urge that this not be permitted until you have completed thorough studies and can ensure safety for our water supply, the health of the people who live, work, and play in the great state of New York," said Sandra Frankel, (D), Brighton Town Supervisor.

Environmental and antifracking groups vehemently oppose hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus and Utica Shale. The technique involves the injection of a high pressure mix of water and chemicals to break up shale formations and release natural gas.

Lawmakers that represent the Finger Lakes region are concerned about the impact of fracking and the high volume of truck traffic that comes along with it on the grape, wine and tourism industries.

"We do not want this huge industry for our area destroyed. It would not be able to co-exist with fracking. Thousands of people around Keuka Lake use it for drinking water. One gas industry mistake could destroy our water forever," said Jane Russell, the Pulteney Town Supervisor. "This is an irreplaceable resource."

Faced with continued regional job and industry loss, fracking advocates say natural gas drilling this is exactly the type of economic boom that's desperately needed.

"We are running on fumes and we are sitting on a tank, a full tank, one of the biggest in the world, and I would just ask that you move forward with this and move forward quickly – and do so in a way that makes it easy enough for the gas companies to come in and build and get the gas without too many regulations," said Jason Ballard of Lindley. "Don't base your regulations on a bunch of nimwits that don't know what they're talking about and try to appease people that have no facts."

"We desperately need this and we know it can be done safely. In 60 years of doing this, the hydraulic fracturing, there is not a single instance of where this has polluted a water supply. Not a single one," said Tom Shepstone of Marcellus Initiative.

Permits for high volume hydrofracking in New York are on hold until the environmental review is finalized. The DEC's public comment period runs through December 12th.

Another series of hearings will be held in Binghamton on Thursday.