Legislature examines “frackquakes”

Add earthquakes to the growing list of dangers fracking poses to Texas. On Monday, the House Energy Resources Subcommittee on Seismic Activity held a hearing in Austin to address the increased seismic activity reported in the Barnett Shale and other areas of the state.  The meeting comes as a response to the recent events in the northern Texas towns of Azle and Reno where, since November of 2013, local Texans have experienced an unprecedented number of earthquakes.  A growing body of scientific evidence has linked the disposal of fracking waste deep underground, and even the fracking process itself, to the recent increase in earthquakes in Texas. 

Add earthquakes to the growing list of dangers fracking poses to Texas. On Monday, the House Energy Resources Subcommittee on Seismic Activity held a hearing in Austin to address the increased seismic activity reported in the Barnett Shale and other areas of the state.  The meeting comes as a response to the recent events in the northern Texas towns of Azle and Reno where, since November of 2013, local Texans have experienced an unprecedented number of earthquakes.  A growing body of scientific evidence has linked the disposal of fracking waste deep underground, and recently even the fracking process itself, to the recent increase in earthquakes in Texas. Disposal well activity has been known to be capable of causing seismic events since the 1960s.  According to a team of seismologists and geophysicists from SMU, there is a general scientific consensus that when the injected liquids leak into a geologic fault, they have a significant potential to act as a lubricant, causing the fault to slip and resulting in the seismic tremors.  

“Our schools now conduct earthquake drills,” Azle Mayor Brundrett told the committee members.  Brundrett reported that Azle residents first experienced seismic activities in November of 2013.  Just one week after the first event, the number of earthquakes had risen to 6, eventually reaching 16 by the end of November.  Seismologists studying the Fort Worth basin reported the occurrence of 1 seismic event previous to 2008; since October 31st, 2008, over 70 quakes above a magnitude of 2 have been recorded.

Mayor Stokes of Reno also expressed her concerns regarding the contents of injection wells in relation to Texas groundwater.  Industrial wastes from fracking operations can often include a multitude of toxins including carcinogens and radioactive elements.  Both Stokes and Brundrett expressed their frustrations regarding the current priority of industry over the rights of health and public safety.  “We need to stop referring to the disposal wells as saltwater,” expressed Mayor Stokes.  “It’s not. It’s poison.”

In the 1980s, oil and gas companies lobbied to have their waste exempted from key provisions of the nation’s hazardous waste law, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. As a result, their disposal sites face weaker standards and fewer inspections than if their waste was designated hazardous. Nor are they subject to the same earthquake testing rules.

The state of Ohio, which has similarly faced a rash of “frackquakes,” responded last month by adopting new earthquake testing requirements on the oil and gas industry. Meanwhile in Texas, the Railroad Commission (the state’s main regulator of the oil and gas industry) has hired a seismologist to investigate the issue, but as of yet, has not adopted new safety standards. This week the San Antonio Express-News editorialized that given enormous conflicts of interests with the oil and gas industry, the “Railroad Commission is broken,” a sobering reminder that the commission is unlikely to require new regulations absent major public pressure. But as an Azle resident said at a public meeting in January, “maybe if the earth shakes down in Austin, we’ll get some results.” 

By Luke Metzger and interns Thomas Mitsch and Dillon Long.

Authors

Luke Metzger

Executive Director, Environment Texas

As the executive director of Environment Texas, Luke is a leading voice in the state for clean air and water, parks and wildlife, and a livable climate. Luke recently led the successful campaign to get the Texas Legislature and voters to invest $1 billion to buy land for new state parks. He also helped win permanent protection for the Christmas Mountains of Big Bend; helped compel Exxon, Shell and Chevron Phillips to cut air pollution at four Texas refineries and chemical plants; and got the Austin and Houston school districts to install filters on water fountains to protect children from lead in drinking water. The San Antonio Current has called Luke "long one of the most energetic and dedicated defenders of environmental issues in the state." He has been named one of the "Top Lobbyists for Causes" by Capitol Inside, received the President's Award from the Texas Recreation and Parks Society for his work to protect Texas parks. He is a board member of the Clean Air Force of Central Texas and an advisory board member of the Texas Tech University Masters of Public Administration program. Luke, his wife, son and daughters are working to visit every state park in Texas.