ALBANY – Supporters and opponents of natural gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing are making a last-minute effort to voice their positions as the comment period on the state’s environmental impact review and proposed regulations comes to a close.

Opponents say they’ll deliver thousands of comments to the Department of Environmental Conservation on Tuesday, the day before the four-month period ends. The agency had already received nearly 21,000 comments as of Monday.

Supporters of gas drilling plan rallies around the state today. They say they’ll also deliver thousands of comments to DEC.

Opponents say shale gas development threatens water supplies. Supporters say proposed regulations will prevent environmental harm while drilling brings economic benefits.