The state's environmental agency says approximately 6,000 people attended two hearings on hydrofracking yesterday. The meetings, held at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center in Lower Manhattan, also produced more than 1,250 comments entered into the public record, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation.

“The turnout of 6,000 people at the hearings demonstrates how strongly New Yorkers feel about this important issue,” DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said in a statement. “Public input on the draft environment impact statement is an important and insightful part of developing responsible conditions for this activity as well as determining whether it can be safely conducted. Public comment on the 2009 draft helped DEC greatly improve its proposal which we released earlier this summer.”