OK Gov Asking Feds For Earthquake Assistance $, But Somehow, It's "Awkward" To Mention Fracking

[hatrack]

OKLAHOMA CITY -- As she knocked on the federal government's door for aid in the wake of a damaging earthquake in 2011, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin (R) avoided talking about one aspect of the earthquake -- its cause. Too "awkward," said Fallin's communications director, Alex Weintz.

"The problem is, some people are trying to blame hydraulic fracturing (a necessary process for extracting natural gas) for causing earthquakes," Weintz wrote in an email, vetoing mention of the earthquake at an energy conference. "So you see the awkward position that puts us in. I would rather not have to have that debate." That was two days after the magnitude-5.7 rupture toppled chimneys and injured two people east of Oklahoma City. Since then, the earthquake issue has only gotten more awkward for Fallin.

Oil and gas has been her biggest financial backer, and it's the most prominent industry in the state. But scientists say oil and gas activities have caused hundreds of earthquakes, rattling her constituents and their homes.

It's not hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, that's causing the quakes they're feeling. Instead, scientists say, it is wastewater disposal. Fracking and other production activities create millions of gallons of wastewater that get injected into deep underground wells. In certain instances, the fluid can seep into faults, lubricate them and unleash quakes.

EnergyWire reviewed thousands of pages of emails and other documents provided by Fallin's office under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. They show a team in the governor's office that moved slowly to address the quakes even as the earth rumbled more and more frequently. Her top aide told staffers to "make this go away" when earthquake preparedness came up in the state Legislature after the November 2011 quake. When constituents had questions, her office used talking points borrowed from an oil company. And, with Fallin at the helm, Oklahoma has done far less than other states hit by smaller and less frequent man-made quakes.

EDIT

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060021388

[Mnemosyne]

1. The freaking frackers need to start paying for their destruction. nt

[erronis]

4. Don't hold your breath.

They'll:
- change their names,
- declare bankruptcy,
- be bought out by another company without liability,
- be granted waivers by the state,
- stall until the statue of limitations has run out or the complainants have all died/lost interest

Same as any home contractor with major faults. Ignore, deflect, and disappear.

[Dustlawyer]

5. Their first choice is to pay their politicians to change the laws and/or give them immunity.

[Mnemosyne]

10. You got it. Dow still hasn't paid for Bhopal, iirc. Sickening. nt

[CanonRay]

2. Why doesn't she ask the gas/oil companies for earthquake assistance instead

They're the ones causing the earthquakes!

[arikara]

7. That would be too awkward.

n/t

[Fuddnik]

3. Didn't they just pass a law outlawing cities outlawing fracking?

Tell her to clean that up, and we'll talk.

[V0ltairesGh0st]

9. Yes she did that... and worse....

Gov. Fallin Signs Bill to Prevent Towns, Cities and Counties from Banning Fracking

http://stateimpact.npr.org/oklahoma/2015/06/01/gov-fallin-signs-bill-to-prevent-towns-cities-and-counties-from-banning-fracking/

Oklahoma Governor Signs Minimum Wage Hike Ban

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/04/15/mary-fallin-signs-minimum-wage-hike-ban-in-oklahoma

Despite court ruling, Mary Fallin won’t remove 10 Commandments statue

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/despite-court-ruling-gov-mary-fallin-wont-remove-10-commandments-statue

[BlancheSplanchnik]

6. mm-hmm. Awkward. Definitely, that's a valid reason to avoid facing

LIFE THREATENING CRISES.

[groundloop]

8. Nope, no evidence to suggest these earthquakes aren't natural (yeah, right)

From a National Geographic article:


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/07/140731-oklahoma-earthquake-spike-wastewater-injection/