Fracking Injection Wells Causing Earthquakes?

From Susan Candiotti and Ross Levitt, CNN

Sat December 31, 2011

Eastern Ohio rattled by 4.0-magnitude earthquake.

The quake struck one day after Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director James Zehringer announced that work would be halted on a fluid-injection well in Youngstown, due to fears it could be contributing to a recent apparent spike in seismic activity in the area. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an injection well "is a device that places fluid deep underground into porous rock formations, such as sandstone or limestone, or into or below the shallow soil layer."

The decision came after the state of Ohio invited experts from Columbia University to collect more information about seismic activity in the area. The well is owned and permitted to North Star Disposal, a Youngstown company, according to the state.

"While conclusive evidence cannot link the seismic activity to the well, Zehringer has adopted an approach requiring prudence and caution regarding the site," the department said in a press release.

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/31/us/ohio-earthquake/index.html

More information here:

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http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/01/us/ohio-earthquake/index.html

Similar earthquakes have occured in Arkansas.  Read about them here:

http://www.stuarthsmith.com/earthquake-outbreak-arkansas-bans-fracking-operations-inside-thousand-square-mile-area

Another article published today by ABC news:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/expert-wastewater-ohio-triggered-quakes-15275844

The quote by Govenor Kasich's spokesman is priceless...currently, my vote for the dumbest thing to exit the mouth of a politician in 2012.  But the year is only 3 days old.  Kasich has plenty of time to surpass it.  I'm sure Kasich's thoughts have nothing to do with the $213,519 he has received from the Fracking lobby in the last 10 years.

More:

http://news.yahoo.com/ohio-earthquake-not-natural-event-expert-says-002703764.html

More:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45903873/ns/technology_and_science-science/