Page, S. (2016, February 05). New Study Ties Fracking Water Disposal To California

Earthquakes. Retrieved March 13, 2017, from https://thinkprogress.org/new-study-ties-fracking-water-disposal-to-california-earthquakes-8b2f8f81cd1#.q82sks6mw

 

A new study released on February 2, 2017, linked a set of earthquakes in Bakersfield from 2005 to fracking operations several kilometers away.  This is not the first time fracking has been connected to earthquakes; a number of studies have pointed to fracking as the cause of earthquakes in Oklahoma, where the situation has gotten so dangerous that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has asked companies to stop fracking in some areas.  Studies have proven that fracking can lead to earthquakes occurring years later and several miles away.  Given that more wastewater has been injected in California than in Oklahoma, there may be reason to believe there is serious risk of causing major seismic activity.

 

Earthquakes are not new to California given that it lies on the San Andreas fault.  Given California’s history with disastrous earthquakes and the numerous studies that link fracking to seismic activity, there is every reason to believe that fracking in California will lead to disaster.  When researchers are already concerned with the amount of seismic activity that is occurring, allowing fracking without strict regulation would be grossly irresponsible.