Texas Proposes Tougher Rules On Fracking Wastewater After Earthquakes Surge

[Bill USA]

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/08/27/3476207/texas-earthquake-rules-fracking/

The agency that regulates oil and gas activity in Texas is considering new, tougher regulations governing the practice of injecting leftover water used to frack natural gas wells deep into the ground — a process which is believed to be responsible for an increase in human-caused earthquakes across the state.


The Texas Railroad Commission’s new proposed regulations on wastewater injection wells were heard by members of the Texas House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Seismic Activity on Monday, following complaints that earthquakes have become more frequent over the last several years. Dr. Craig Pearson, the Railroad Commission’s new seismologist, told the subcommittee that the regulations would help make sure injected wastewater doesn’t migrate onto inactive fault lines and cause man-made quakes.

“Because we’re now dealing with induced seismicity, the worry is not only about water moving up [to our groundwater] but out to dormant faults,” Pearson said, noting that current regulations are only designed to protect from groundwater contamination.

The controversial technique of hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as “fracking,” uses a great deal more water than conventional drilling. To stimulate natural gas wells, companies inject high-pressure water and chemicals miles-deep into subsurface rock which effectively cracks or “fractures” it, making the gas easier to extract.
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Are there no rules concerning having the oil companies reclaim the water used in fracking? Or are they just gonna let it lay around in toxic waste lakes until it evaporates leaving the toxic sludge on/in the ground? I guess it's another case of private profits and public funded cleanup? Wouldn't want any 'costly' regulations there, would we?

[elleng]

1. 'induced seismicity'

'the worry is not only about water moving up but out to dormant faults,” '

[malokvale77]

2. The State of Texas...

has already said they would ignore Denton's democratic vote to ban fracking.

The State of Texas is full of shit.