Proposed hydraulic fracturing regulations in New York state

In doing research for a paper I came across a document published in 2011 by the NY Department of Environmental Conservation on newly proposed actions that might be allowed during hydraulic fracturing. The opportunity for public inquiry closed a while ago and the final report has not been completed, but considering that some of these changes might affect the public, I wanted to share. In case you are interested, the document can be found at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/materials_minerals_pdf/rdsgeisch80911.pdf

The DEC is looking to allow opportunities for the following activities:

1) Issuance of a permit to drill when high-volume hydraulic fracturing is proposed shallower than 2,000 feet anywhere along the entire length of the wellbore;
2) Issuance of a permit to drill when high-volume hydraulic fracturing is proposed where the top of the target fracture zone at any point along the entire proposed length of the wellbore is less than 1,000 feet below the base of a known fresh water supply;
3) Issuance of a permit to drill when high-volume hydraulic fracturing is proposed at a well pad within 500 feet of a principal aquifer (to be re-evaluated two years after issuance of the first permit for high-volume hydraulic fracturing);
4) Issuance of a permit to drill when high-volume hydraulic fracturing is proposed on a well pad within 150 feet of a perennial or intermittent stream, storm drain, lake or pond;
5) Issuance of a permit to drill when high-volume hydraulic fracturing is proposed and the source water involves a surface water withdrawal not previously approved by the Department that is not based on the NFRM as described in Chapter 7 (of this document);
6) Any proposed water withdrawal from a pond or lake;
7) Any proposed ground water withdrawal within 500 feet of a private well;
8) Any proposed ground water withdrawal within 500 feet of a wetland that pump test data shows would have an influence on the wetland; and
9) Issuance of a permit to drill any well subject to ECL 23 whose location is determined by NYCDEP to be within 1,000 feet of its subsurface water supply infrastructure.

While it might be completely safe to allow permitting for these activities, they do appear to be loosening regulations on hydraulic fracturing in NY State, which might be of concern to local residents.
FYI.