ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- An environmental group has released documents showing the natural gas industry had exclusive access to proposed drilling regulations at least six weeks before they were made public by New York state's Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Environmental Working Group alleged Thursday that a prominent industry lawyer used this access to try to weaken rules restricting discharges of radioactive wastewater. The national group is seeking a moratorium on shale gas drilling until all health and environmental concerns are resolved.

The document exchanges were first reported by the Times-Union of Albany. DEC spokeswoman Emily DeSantis tells the newspaper the communication was consistent with state law meant to ensure regulations aren't overly burdensome.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to decide in coming months whether to allow shale gas drilling after four years of environmental review.