Oklahoma earthquakes raise calls for restrictions on energy firms

www.rawstory.com...

Earthquakes in Oklahoma in the past week, including one of the strongest ever recorded in the state, have led to calls for the governor to make changes to oil and gas drilling regulations and reduce seismic activity scientists link to the energy industry.

Two large earthquakes were recorded in northwest Oklahoma on Wednesday, including a magnitude 4.8 quake. The quakes were part of a surge in seismic activity over the past several years.

I think this is because of fracking and apparently some scientists do as well.

however....

The industry is Oklahoma’s largest source of private capital spending and tax revenue and accounts for about 10 percent of the state’s annual economy, according to the Oklahoma State Chamber, which represents more than 1,000 Oklahoma businesses.

My question is .....what will it take for the welfare of the citizens of OK to take precedent over oil profits?

a reply to: olaru12
Oklahoma is made up of a lot of proud people I bet they will be in denial.

a reply to: olaru12


The welfare of the citizens will never take precedent over oil profits. It never has. The oil industry will spin the numbers to prove it isn't them causing the quakes and there will always be rednecks wanting to work in the industry for the easy buck so they can fill their garage with toys they never use. And they will always be willing to intimidate those who appose, using opening lines like "Look what the oil has done for this community. Do you really want to take that away from us??"

They can cut back on the fracking and it will help. They have to use common sense when doing fracking. They seem to be going crazy with it in some areas and earthquakes will not be the only negative thing found out about fracking.

Yes, just wait till the earthquakes start squeezing the friggin frackin juice back to the surface. It will make Love Canal look like someone dropped a Styrofoam cup on the ground.

originally posted by: rickymouse
They can cut back on the fracking and it will help. They have to use common sense when doing fracking. They seem to be going crazy with it in some areas and earthquakes will not be the only negative thing found out about fracking.

The fracking chemicals pumped into the ground are eventually going to find their way into the aquifer.
When the citizens of OK start showing an increased incidence of cancer will that make a difference to the oil companies? nah!

www.businessinsider.com...

a reply to: olaru12
I think it's because of fracking, too.
As for your question, good question. When will they realize that earthquakes aren't worth it?
ETA: Maybe a natural disaster or sinkholes will do the trick. Then again, who knows?

a reply to: rickymouse

Money trumps crazy.

Ft McMurray in Alberta has a great parallel story. A few years ago the First Nations community there asked an independent investigator to track down why there was a sudden spike in cancer. They suspected contaminated water resources. It was also paralleling a new, very aggressive strain of cancer being found in the oil labor force there. The investigator came up with very damning evidence and tried to get the government to enforce policy changes. Of coarse everybody from the laborers who where drowning in easily obtained riches to the industry associations persecuted the poor guy to near extinction. The government was getting so much pressure to shut the guy up and they figured his numbers were so outlandish that they decided to do there own study to counter his claims. Ironically, their study ended up scaring the crap out of them. Now the investigator has kind of turned out to be a local celebrity but I don't think the industry has made any significant changes.

originally posted by: CraftBuilder
a reply to: rickymouse

Money trumps crazy.

Are you mixing up saying that Trumps money crazy?

a reply to: rickymouse

No association was intended. You have to give him a bit of credit though. Not to many people could become a multi-millionaire twice.

Maybe they should pose the theory as to how the oil got there in the first place and then ask their own persons do they want to personally contribute to the oil production?

Is there nothing that nature does all by itself anymore? It used to be nature was to blame for all the NATURAL events. Now man gets blamed for everything. Gee , I guess that does make Mother Nature feel irrelevant nowadays.