Calls to halt Texas injection wells because of earthquake are premature | Commentary | Dallas News

http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/09/09/calls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-premature[10/14/2016 1:04:35 PM]

Don't miss a story. Like us on Facebook.

Get the Most Important D-FW News in Your InboxSign up for our daily email newsletters

Get Headlines, Business, SportsDay, and GuideLive. Change

Daily HeadlinesBusiness ReportSportsDayGuideLive (weekly)

OPINION

More in Commentary

More in Letters to the Editor

VIEW COMMENTS

Like 307K

SIGN UP NOW

Dallas streets, Rangers Stadium, terrorism, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Tony Blair 2 D A Y S A G OBy

Sharon Grigsby

Requiring changing tables in men's bathrooms is one tiny step for women / 2 D A Y S A G O

Profile image for Sharon Grigsby

When head meets heart, my vote goes to the Rangers' new stadiumTalking Points: Did you hear what they said?

ByDallas Morning News Editorial

In dropping legal challenge to Syrian refugees, Texas is pragmatic buthardly humane

/ 2 D A Y S A G O

ByJamelle Bouie 3 D A Y S A G O Police training, southern development, CPS caseworkers,

slumlords, tax lawsByLetters to the Editor

Readers write about too much development in the north, the plight of CPScaseworkers, too many tax laws and more.

/ 3 D A Y S A G OProfile image for Letters to the Editor Submit a Letter to the Editor An open letter to Gov. Abbott, police training, locker roomculture, Paul Ryan, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump

David Bitton/The News Press via AP

C O M M E N T A R Y O P I N I O N

Arlington, if you don't build it, the Rangers might leave We recommend Angie Chen Button for Texas House District 112 City must prevent West Dallas eviction disaster

A GOP that can't rebuke Trump deserves its time in the wilderness

C O M M E N T A R Y E D I T O R I A L S C O M M E N T A R Y

L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

C O M M E N T A R Y E D I T O R I A L S

ByDallas Morning News EditorialE D I T O R I A L S L E T T E R S T O T H E E D I T O R

ByLetters to the EditorProfile image for Letters to the Editor

Calls to halt Texas injection wells because of earthquake are premature

S E P 9

Ryan Sitton, Contributor

C O M M E N T A R Y

There is no question that the Texas Railroad Commission, the state's oil and gas regulator, is doing its job to protect Texans and that we takethe issue of induced earthquakes and seismicity very seriously.

As I have stated repeatedly, it is scientifically possible for injection wells that safely dispose of fluids deep underground to cause earthquakesin certain cases, with the right set of conditions.

In the wake of the recent Pawnee, Oklahoma, earthquake, some groups are now calling on the commission to halt injection well activity. Ablanket prohibition isn't the answer. That solution would be like lowering all speed limits across the state to 50 miles per hour in response toconcerns on a few specific stretches of road.

The commission is taking action, though. We are working with several different organizations, including the Bureau of Economic Geology, tostudy seismic events and better understand what is causing them.

In 2015, the Texas Legislature allocated $4.6 million to the study of seismicity, some of which is being used to fund the TexNet SeismicNetwork that is deploying additional seismic monitors across Texas. That group is committed to developing comprehensive research that willhelp us better understand induced seismicity in Texas. If we determine that there are causal factors associated with injection activity in certainareas, then we will take steps to eliminate those factors through regulation.

While we are studying this, the commission has already taken notable steps to reduce potential risks.

In November 2014 we implemented new rules for injection wells that require applicants to conduct a search of the U.S. Geological Surveyseismic database and report if the proposed well is in an area of historic seismicity. These rules give the commission the authority to modify,suspend or terminate an injection well permit.

Since the rules went into effect, 57 applications for injection wells in areas of historic seismicity have been filed. The commission has putspecial conditions on 30 of those wells to minimize seismic concerns. Eleven have been returned or withdrawn because the commission wasn'tsatisfied with the application. The commission approved only 10 injection wells without special conditions because our scientists who reviewthese applications were confident there were no risks.

1 of 24 HDNOW PLAYINGMichigan's Monster Football Win Leads to BigSteak Discounts

Much of the negative criticism of the commission on this issue has centered on one study, the Southern Methodist University paper about oneset of seismic events and two disposal wells. This study of the Azle and Reno area was very limited in scope and analysis.

To delve into this study in detail, I hosted in June 2015 a six-hour meeting with SMU researchers and technical experts, and we livestreamed itso people across Texas could see the discussion. I appreciated the SMU researchers' participation and candid admissions that additionalresearch is necessary to enhance and improve their work. I concluded that there were gaps in the study, and that much work needs to be doneto develop a comprehensive understanding of this issue.

In spite of the criticism many level at the Railroad Commission on this issue, the Environmental Protection Agency recently praised thecommission for its actions on injection wells, saying "the RRC is also commended for establishing new regulations specific to seismicity,including solidifying RRC authority to take appropriate action related to injection well operations."

Texas has been a leader on seismicity, although we have been slow to communicate everything we are doing to address this important issue.No other state is putting this much money and resources into researching seismic activity. The Texas Legislature deserves high praise for theirstrong commitment to this research and for the funding they provided.

I understand North Texans' concerns about this issue. I grew up in Irving and my mom and dad still live in the area. I am confident that theTexNet research is going to help us better understand seismicity, and I am committed to working with researchers, technical experts and othersin the scientific community.

If we find definitive links between oil and gas injection and earthquakes in Texas, I will be the first person to advocate for appropriateregulatory action.

Ryan Sitton is a Texas Railroad Commissioner and a registered professional engineer in Friendswood. Twitter: @RyanSitton

REPLAY

SUBSCRIBE NOW

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pcs/click?xai=AKAOjsvpv2DCCenyR-E8ny6uF1_MygHOKQAiEoFLRR76bFcQOv4OHsIq5tBxqpnGE1WpOuK9hGDxyzfa5uPIUW7C0dB4gNKf6viqOLCm-yD5xovv4OMG5zNaRxeaSFuRDWL_xHGvFn_adIhTqyVhzWGRDZYAXVXetKsBIaVEV7p9qfFNAqY8JoCsnv2Q0VJ8IHZ1La1V0UyotQNbYePPwK7hkB05on2R4xxBlT-6B0m_X3aiCmRQSEwYxROfVw3arXWgtF1Yur8neyUfuA&sig=Cg0ArKJSzAbEcWvDvRF7&adurl=http://www.iheartthepark.com/http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pcs/click?xai=AKAOjsue_nZgwOju4z0wU221ljIFIqjI7SVOf94hIaXUmTy3rTTx8yRIbrd11NeWC5J2g-9FDWtjEpK4e67EC8Vv9KH-UWQSvNOJT6DJSds2wBH6IOK0gV0wExeRW_4ymAAyUzCHQ46QWUUedXC-8udSGU-kTDM_KVLLb-ude7YzSZkekTYA-b3rtyqT-cAEWzPN6EhPfO-xJUTZ_00QJkIVPz0xj5066NfIPyeSLgDtziSlGeWzOmFhAcuuaJfCn8ExLl64F3Xn1Q_l&sig=Cg0ArKJSzIvI7cXQkrys&adurl=http://www.texasfluorescents.com/X1.htmlhttp://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pcs/click?xai=AKAOjssyqMv9QXfv3ArOA0QOthN0G0qE-OAZaao6Ew7t925Q6Ua9I1CuSoEe5mCtSKkVmnMwioKSvGyhozZF0vnkC02WzesIS0XviwhSvZcKPGMJxSikOorzb6GwKtgdKpCmEayMrWDBqMB6iqS9TfbXpMwYfafzX2uzCp0G8mc5DcJYqUjhob_QgNBQCjozOnYhRTQdVmpFRFVktaxc6NOij_qAeqD2YH4EBnNx9fcmrhOnDX9Rbx4MOSy3x3s8tw_9FMNVnmdI2K3C2g&sig=Cg0ArKJSzCBfJXXV8Wvv&adurl=http://res.dallasnews.com/advertising/dallasnews/cookieContest/1557779/01G7/index.htmlhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editorhttps://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F2016%2F09%2F09%2Fcalls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-prematurehttps://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F2016%2F09%2F09%2Fcalls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-premature&text=Calls%20to%20halt%20Texas%20injection%20wells%20because%20of%20earthquake%20are%20premature&via=dallasnewsmailto:?subject=Calls%20to%20halt%20Texas%20injection%20wells%20because%20of%20earthquake%20are%20premature&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F2016%2F09%2F09%2Fcalls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-premature&body=Read%20on%20DallasNews.com%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F2016%2F09%2F09%2Fcalls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-prematurehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2016/10/12/dallas-streets-rangers-stadium-terrorism-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-george-w-bush-tony-blairhttp://www.dallasnews.com/author/sharon-grigsbyhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/12/requiring-changing-tables-mens-bathrooms-one-tiny-step-womenhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/14/head-meets-heart-vote-goes-rangers-new-stadiumhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/14/talking-points-hear-saidhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2016/10/11/dropping-legal-challenge-syrian-refugees-texas-pragmatic-hardly-humanehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2016/10/11/dropping-legal-challenge-syrian-refugees-texas-pragmatic-hardly-humanehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2016/10/11/police-training-southern-development-cps-caseworkers-slumlords-tax-lawshttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2016/10/11/police-training-southern-development-cps-caseworkers-slumlords-tax-lawshttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2016/09/19/send-a-letterhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2016/10/13/open-letter-gov-abbott-police-training-locker-room-culture-paul-ryan-ted-cruz-donald-trumphttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/2016/10/13/open-letter-gov-abbott-police-training-locker-room-culture-paul-ryan-ted-cruz-donald-trumphttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinionhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/12/arlington-build-rangers-might-leavehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2016/10/12/recommend-angie-chen-button-texas-house-district-112http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/12/city-must-prevent-west-dallas-eviction-disasterhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2016/10/11/gop-rebuke-trump-deserves-time-wildernesshttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorialshttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editorhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorialshttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorialshttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editorhttps://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F2016%2F09%2F09%2Fcalls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-prematurehttps://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F2016%2F09%2F09%2Fcalls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-premature&text=Calls%20to%20halt%20Texas%20injection%20wells%20because%20of%20earthquake%20are%20premature&via=dallasnewsmailto:?subject=Calls%20to%20halt%20Texas%20injection%20wells%20because%20of%20earthquake%20are%20premature&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F2016%2F09%2F09%2Fcalls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-premature&body=Read%20on%20DallasNews.com%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F2016%2F09%2F09%2Fcalls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-prematurehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/other-voices/article97687647.htmlhttp://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pcs/click?xai=AKAOjsta18C8eCH64Vw3WdCO1_AMX6iAymaHk6Hf7-1jcY1AIo-8BEiw9IuflOMO_R-MNEABTFzvwhmOgjbxBRSLlBkvK2kgH0mMaYVuzl4ae7v_xKQkYeAGgo2WCqY5XnZEFc6mIXIy06sP0L1a8w1upTOV4KASZHSaWIhHR5xW0KioCVxk8TR4usDr6HXA5z8gAwhsPW7IgaDxJdlNbdI1b4qa76Y0fKRy9NkJhUVRSxQMgWxwCmeE7g2V4k2hTJXcM93AQ1Bs_IidwA&sig=Cg0ArKJSzO06YflLqoeB&adurl=http://www.hopefortheheart.org/30thhttp://www.rrc.state.tx.us/about-us/commissioners/sitton/news/061815/https://twitter.com/RyanSittonhttps://join.dallasnews.com/subscribehttp://www.dallasnews.com/

Calls to halt Texas injection wells because of earthquake are premature | Commentary | Dallas News

http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/09/09/calls-halt-texas-injection-wells-earthquake-premature[10/14/2016 1:04:35 PM]

More in Commentary

LOADING...

2016, The Dallas Morning News Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Donald Trump is setting a time bomb for racialviolence on election day

/ 2 D A Y S A G O

Building a safe space to bridge the gap between blacks and policeBy

Sheron C. PattersonI am a part of both the police and the African-American communities.

/ 3 D A Y S A G OProfile image for Sheron C. PattersonAT&T commits to downtown Dallas If Donald Trump has done anything, he has snuffed out the

Religious Right

4 D A Y S A G O 4 D A Y S A G OTrump would jail Clinton? There's a name for that

ByNoah Feldman / 4 D A Y S A G OProfile image for Noah Feldman How the border threat became standard political trope Watermark megachurch banned a gay man that it didn't deserve to have as

a memberConcerned Bill Clinton and other memes from the secondpresidential debate

4 D A Y S A G O Trump salvaged his campaign, prolonging the GOP's headacheBy

Carl P. LeubsdorfThe GOP nominee's no-holds-barred assault on Hillary Clinton in their second televised debate did littleto expand his conservative base and stem her increasing prospects for winning the presidency.

/ 4 D A Y S A G O

About UsCareersAdvertiseContact UsFAQPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSite Map

You know what would be nice between now and Election Day? A coma Is there an evangelical civil war?

C O M M E N T A R Y

C O M M E N T A R Y E D I T O R I A L S C O M M E N T A R Y

ByJacquielynn FloydC O M M E N T A R Y

ByFrancis Wilkinson C O M M E N T A R Y

C O M M E N T A R YO P I N I O N C O M M E N T A R YBy

Dom DiFurio

http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pcs/click?xai=AKAOjsuRS7HslO9E--98-tCcWF_vX5MtDzhEUG16ftBEdqVpmnY_DY_q6h5XZsFTvGN5T4SKOkLQyuawy8zuRiWd_fxKMVrPtwgCrW2hINWBUjdnJCpG3nWx-JxXRtv0Ansc_FIVFm5eC9R0gFooFBNYIDp4a_pzR4rJvTIFyUOhnFcb0-WTEiqw0kNvUBrHSdLfeWAuySnNfhXKH3kHtKSMeBu-0TV9E299iyRasGDM-_4-L36nU3Qa0JY4iKtNo23q58y9MOJFv8f04Q&sig=Cg0ArKJSzIXvpC0Q0rOp&adurl=http://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11680/state-fair-of-texas-online%3Fpartner_id%3D1397http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/11/donald-trump-setting-time-bomb-racial-violence-election-dayhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/11/donald-trump-setting-time-bomb-racial-violence-election-dayhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/10/bridging-gap-blacks-policehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2016/10/10/att-commits-downtown-dallashttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/10/donald-trump-done-anything-snuffed-religious-righthttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/10/donald-trump-done-anything-snuffed-religious-righthttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/10/trump-jail-clinton-namehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/14/border-threat-became-standard-political-tropehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/14/watermark-megachurch-banned-gay-man-deserve-memberhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/14/watermark-megachurch-banned-gay-man-deserve-memberhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/opinion/2016/10/10/concerned-bill-clinton-memes-second-presidential-debatehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/opinion/2016/10/10/concerned-bill-clinton-memes-second-presidential-debatehttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/10/trump-salvaged-campaignprolonging-gops-headachehttp://dmnmedia.com/about-us/company-info/https://ahbelo.mua.hrdepartment.com/hr/ats/JobSearch/indexhttp://dmnmedia.com/http://www.dallasnews.com/contact-ushttp://www.dallasnews.com/digital-sub/faqhttp://www.dallasnews.com/privacy-policyhttp://www.dallasnews.com/termshttp://www.dallasnews.com/site-maphttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/10/know-nice-now-election-day-comahttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/10/evangelical-civil-warhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorialshttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/author/jacquielynn-floydhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinionhttp://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentaryhttp://www.dallasnews.com/author/dom-difurio

dallasnews.comCalls to halt Texas injection wells because of earthquake are premature | Commentary | Dallas News

1lYXJ0aHF1YWtlLXByZW1hdHVyZQA=: form3: email: newsletters[]: newsnewsletters[]_(1): businessnewsletters[]_(1)_(2): sportsnewsletters[]_(1)_(2)_(3): entertainmentbutton9:

1lYXJ0aHF1YWtlLXByZW1hdHVyZQA=: button1: button1_(1): button1_(1)_(2):

FyZ2U/QWNyb2JhdFdlYkNhcFRJRDUA: form0: button3: