U.S. Government Confirms Link Between Earthquakes and Hydraulic Fracturing

[Roland99]

http://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/U.S.-Government-Confirms-Link-Between-Earthquakes-and-Hydraulic-Fracturing.html

The practice of injecting water into deep rock formations causes earthquakes, both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Geological Survey have concluded.

...

As the U.S. natural gas industry mounts an unprecedented and expensive advertising campaign to convince the public that such practices are environmentally benign, U.S. government agencies have determined otherwise.

According to the U.S. Army’s Rocky Mountain Arsenal website, the RMA drilled a deep well for disposing of the site’s liquid waste after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “concluded that this procedure is effective and protective of the environment.” According to the RMA, “The Rocky Mountain Arsenal deep injection well was constructed in 1961, and was drilled to a depth of 12,045 feet” and 165 million gallons of Basin F liquid waste, consisting of “very salty water that includes some metals, chlorides, wastewater and toxic organics” was injected into the well during 1962-1966.

Why was the process halted? “The Army discontinued use of the well in February 1966 because of the possibility that the fluid injection was “triggering earthquakes in the area,” according to the RMA. In 1990, the “Earthquake Hazard Associated with Deep Well Injection--A Report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency” study of RMA events by Craig Nicholson, and R.I. Wesson stated simply, “Injection had been discontinued at the site in the previous year once the link between the fluid injection and the earlier series of earthquakes was established.”

[Autumn]

1. Does that mean the U.S. Government will stop this fracking?

I don't think so.

[peacetalksforall]

2. OWS - add some signs. We need celebrities to help get the word out. Interviews. Keith O., help!

We need you again.

Plus ...

Bernie Sanders. Dennis Kucinich, Alan Grayson. Russ Feingold (maybe). And calling all outsiders celebrities.

I don't think anyone is going to be happy if there is a quake below Manhattan.

[Roland99]

4. But the gov't and the oil companies know what's best for us!

And, besides, they're creating jobs!!




ugh.

[xchrom]

3. Recommend

[grntuscarora]

5. K/R

For those interested, with more info available at http://protectingourwaters.wordpress.com/ :



Get on the Bus November 21st — Fight for the Delaware River Watershed
November 8, 2011
by Iris Marie Bloom

Friends, please join us – bring neighbors, friends, new sectors, new protectors!

What: Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) special meeting about gas drilling
When: Monday, November 21st 10 AM – 12 NOON, gather at 7:30 AM
Where: Patriots Theater, War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive Trenton, NJ 08608
Why: DRBC has called this special meeting to vote on opening the Delaware River Watershed to fracking, ignoring tens of thousands who’ve stood up for our ecosystem, our economy, our lives.

People are already taking the day off from work, school and their normal schedules to travel to Trenton on Monday, November 21st to stand together to protect our water and to insist on putting health, science and sanity ahead of corporate rule and economic ruin.