A group of professors from The State University of New York at Buffalo, are seeking more information on the industry ties to the university's newly formed institute to study natural gas extraction, reports Bloomberg.

SUNY Buffalo's-also known University at Buffalo-83 professors and staff have sent an open letter to the university administration at UB through its online faculty publication UB Reporter, requesting the documents on the founding and funding of Shale Resources and Society Institute.

The Institute in question was announced in April this year to focus on natural gas extraction through high-volume hydraulic fracturing, or 'fracking.' This method has given a much needed boost to the US natural gas industry.

But, the natural gas extraction through fracking has generated furore among the environmentalists who say that it contaminates ground water while millions of gallons of chemically treated water and sand are forced underground to break shale rock and free trapped gas.

The very same month of its creation, the institute issued a report that said the drillers in Pennsylvania had reduced the rate of blowouts, spills and water contamination by half since the last four years. This industry-friendly report also recommended that if the proposed plans by NY Governor Andrew Cuomo to allow fracking in five counties near Penn border were implemented, the potential environmental problems could be 'entirely avoided or mitigated.'

But, now the report's authenticity is in question, as the two of the researchers in the study failed to disclose their ties with the natural gas industry in the report.

Charles Groat, associate director of the university's Energy Institute and former Director of the U.S. Geological Survey who proposed the study, selected the researchers, edited its summary and presented it to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, also sits on the board of Plains Exploration & Production Co. (PXP).

The Bloomberg report says that the company filings show that Groat received more than $400,000 in 2011 in compensation from the Houston-based company, which has fracking operations in Texas.

In the letter to the UB, the faculty wrote, 'a number of questions have been raised about whether the institute was really intended to provide independent academic inquiry.' The letter also claims that 'institute's corporate appeal seeks over $1,000,000 in funding.'

The Public Accountability Initiative, a Buffalo non-profit that focuses on corruption in business and government, said the report contained errors and didn't acknowledge its authors' 'extensive ties' to the gas industry.

Even the lead researcher, Norman Augustine, also happens to be a former board member at the oil and gas producer ConocoPhillips.

The letter has urged 'complete transparency' on the part of the university to 'dispel the shadow now cast over' it.