Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state will likely miss a deadline linked to hydrofracking.

Since 2008, the Department of Environmental Conservation has been conducting an environmental impact study and drafting new regulations for the natural gas extraction process.

Those regulations were supposed to be finalized by November 29, but Cuomo said an expert health panel named last week to review the study won't finish in time.

Supporters say fracking will create jobs, while critics say it pollutes water sources.

"This is a big decision for the state," Cuomo said. "It has potential economic benefits if the state goes forward with fracking. But we want to make sure it's safe."

Cuomo said he doesn't have a timeline for when the health panel will finish its review.

A final decision will likely be delayed into 2013.