EPA schedules 4 public meetings on fracking

By The AP
Friday, June 18, 2010

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is planning a series of public meetings to collect information on fracking, a process used to increase the flow of oil and gas from underground.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, uses injections of water and chemicals to break up underground shale formations so oil and gas can be more easily recovered.

However, the practice has drawn criticism because of concerns it could affect supplies of drinking water.

The public meetings will be held:

— July 8 at the Hilton Fort Worth in Fort Worth, Texas.

— July 13 at the Marriott Tech Center in Denver, Colo.

— July 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Canonsburg, Pa.

— Aug. 12 at Binghamton University, Binghamton, N.Y.