The State's Department of Environmental Conservation today announced it was extending the public comment period for hydrofracking until January 11. 2012. The announcement reportedly came during the hearing being held downtown at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center on the Borough of Manhattan Community College campus.

"Many individuals and organizations requested additional time to prepare comments," DEC spokeswoman Emily DeSantis said in an email. "We have decided to extend the comment period by 30 days to Jan. 11."

This will likely come as heartening news to fracking opponents, who have been calling for an extended hearing process. DeSantis, however, said the extended comment period wouldn't affect the time frame for a final decision on rules and regulations for the controversial natural gas drilling process, nor would the extra time mean more public hearings.