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| David McNew / Getty Images / AFP |
As concerns over fracking-induced earthquakes mount, regulators from
four US states met for the first time in March to discuss limiting the
risk posed by the controversial practice.
According to Bloomberg News, officials from Ohio, Oklahoma,
Kansas, and Texas are looking to cooperate on the project. The
group reportedly discussed how to strengthen their standards
related to fracking, and is working on establishing similar
monitoring procedures across the states that would prevent
earthquakes from occurring in the future.
“It was a very productive meeting, number one, because it
gave the states the opportunity to get together and talk
collectively about the public interest and the science,”
Gerry Baker, the associate executive director of the Interstate
Oil and Gas Compact Commission, which represents energy states,
told Bloomberg.
“It was a good start in coordinating
efforts.”
One rule being considered by Oklahoma, pending the support of the
lawmakers and the governor, would require companies to record
injection well pressure every day rather than every month. If
such a rule is authorized, Oklahoma would be the first state in
the country to require this.
The move to collaborate comes in the wake of a US Geological
Survey study that found the number of earthquakes occurring in
the central United States was six times higher in 2011 than it
was in 2000. In Oklahoma, for example, the state experienced less
than three quakes a year from 1975 – 2008. Since then, there have
been an average of 40 earthquakes every year.
The process of fracking – which involves blasting water, sand,
and
other chemicals into layers of rock in order to release gas
and oil – has been highlighted as the likely trigger for the
quakes, since the wastewater is then injected into underground
wells that sometimes cause friction near fault lines.
While state officials are serious about creating new regulations
and procedures to monitor fracking operations and limit quakes,
Dan Whitten of America’s Natural Gas Alliance said the amount of
earthquakes connected to fracking injection wells is minor
compared to how many wells exist.
“There’s close to 150,000 injections wells and the number
where there’s even been a connection suggested is just a
handful,” Whitten said to Bloomberg.
“It’s appropriate
that this be addressed at the state level.”
Still, multiple cities and states have begun taking action. As RT
reported earlier this month, Los Angeles became the
largest city in the country to ban fracking, with the prohibition
expected to remain in place until it’s proven the process won’t
harm public safety or contaminate the drinking water. A
co-sponsor of the bill noted the procedure’s connection to
earthquakes, while others have pointed not only to its
environmental consequences, but also to the fact that it uses up
significant amounts of drinking water in a state that’s been
stricken with drought.
According to the Sacramento Bee,
“millions of Californians
live in areas threatened by oil industry-induced
earthquakes,” with more than 800 injection wells near
“
recently active faults,” including the San Andreas.
Meanwhile, Arkansas has banned fracking in an area known for its
spike in seismic activity, while Ohio has barred wells near fault
lines. Other cities, such as Dallas, have effectively banned
fracking as well, prohibiting it within 1,500 feet of a home,
school, church, and other areas.
