“Fracking” is a short term for “Hydraulic Fracturing,” a controversial process of initiating and subsequently propagating a fracture in a rock layer, employing the pressure of a fluid as the source of energy. The fracturing is done from a wellbore drilled into reservoir rock formations, in order to increase the extraction and ultimate recovery rates of oil and natural gas.

New York State reportedly plans to lift a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”).

According to a New York Times report, Governor Andrew Cuomo plans to lift the ban on fracking, though in a way that protects acreage close to New York City’s upstate watershed and other sensitive water resources.

On the other hand, France is the first country to pass a law that bans hydraulic fracturing, several international news sites reported on Friday, July 1, 2011.

Under the new bill, companies with exploration permits will have 2 months to declare whether they intend to use fracking. If they do, their permits will be revoked, reports said.