The effort to ban hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale clears a major hurdle in Albany. As Lori Chung reports, local environmentalists are calling it an 11th-hour victory.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

"The senators really had learned about the issue, it wasn't so much talking details, it was just giving that extra little nudge to put it on the floor" said Wes Gillingham, Catskill Mountainkeeper Program Director.

Gillingham traveled to Albany to push for a vote. He credits environmentalists across the state and other concerned citizens for the outcome. That group includes actor and Callicoon resident Mark Ruffalo, who says he got involved to help protect the land for his family and future generations.

"It's just a great day, it's a lot of work that a lot people have done and I feel like we're doing the right thing" said Ruffalo.

"My dad's gonna try to get it stopped forever and I'm really glad that it's going to stop for a year to check it out" said Keen, Ruffalo's son.

The temporary moratorium is aimed at giving the state time to see what effect injecting water, chemicals and sand into the shale will have on drinking water. However, drilling advocacy groups like the Independent Oil and Gas Association call the move unnecessary.

IOGA released a statement saying lawmakers gave in to what they call a "calculated campaign of misinformation and ignorance."

"The DEC has studied this for more than two years" said IOGA Spokesman Jim Smith. "The longer we delay this, the longer New York is being deprived of an outstanding economic opportunity and by the way a safe drilling technique."

The moratorium is by no means a done deal. While the senate has passed the temporary ban, the assembly hasn't taken up the issue yet, and at this point there's no telling when legislature will return to Albany.