Facing withering pressure from environmental groups, vocal citizens and localities, the DEC indicated that it is slowing down its process of issuing final regulations and associated permits for fracking within the state.  DEC Commissioner Joe Martens recently indicated that its advisory panel will not timely issue its final report and that it may take several months to finish the process. The DEC, however, indicated that it expects to issue drilling permits next year under new proposed regulations. Public hearings before the DEC panel are scheduled to begin in November.