EPA--MEETING UPDATE

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's marathon public meeting on its multimillion-dollar hydraulic fracturing study may be getting a second day.

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Broome County Executive Barbara J. Fiala said today a contractor for the EPA has honed in on Sept. 13 and 14 for a possible two-day event at The Forum in Binghamton. But she wants a representative from The Cadmus Group, the contractor, to travel to the area before a deal is finalized to help smooth out a logistical plan and accompanying costs.

The meeting was originally scheduled to last more than 12 hours on Aug. 12 at Binghamton University, but a contract dispute led the EPA to move it to Syracuse's Oncenter Complex just three days before it was set to take place.

After Onondaga County officials expressed concerns about coming up with a security plan for anticipated protests outside of the meeting, the EPA announced it was postponed.

Fiala said a representative from The Cadmus Group is tentatively scheduled to come to town on Aug. 24.

Officials at Cornell University have also been contacted by the EPA contractor, Cornell representative Claudia Wheatley said.

The agency confirmed in a statement both Cornell and Broome County have been approached, but stressed nothing has been finalized.

"EPA has not finalized a date or location for the meeting at this time," the statement read. "When the public meeting details are finalized, EPA will e-mail the pre-registered attendees for the Aug. 12 meeting, update the EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study website ... and advise the media."