OKLAHOMA CITY — In Oklahoma, now the country’s earthquake capital, people are talking nervously about the big one as man-made quakes get stronger, more frequent and closer to major population centers. Next door in Kansas, they’re feeling on firmer ground though no one is ready yet to declare victory.
Daily Herald, Jan 19
More farmers in drought-stricken California are using oilfield wastewater to irrigate, and a new panel on Tuesday began taking one of the state’s deepest looks yet at the safety of using the chemical-laced water on food crops. Associated Press. Jan 15
http://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/01/13/farms-using-oilfield-wastewater-under-review-for-food-safety/
An increasing number of nonprofit organizations are relying on satellite imagery to monitor environmental degradation. Yale Environment 360. Jan 12
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/eyes_in_the_sky_green_groups_are_harnessing_data_from_space/2946/
Oklahomans don’t blink when they hear warnings about tornadoes, drought or ice-storms. Earthquakes, however, catch their attention.
The Guardian, 10 January 2016
EPA’s independent Science Advisory Board tugged fracking back into the limelight with a draft report yesterday criticizing the agency for an “inconsistent” finding on fracking risks. Politico. Jan 09 2016
http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-energy/2016/01/morning-energy-wolff-212076
A landmark study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that concluded fracking causes no widespread harm to drinking water is coming under fire – this time, from the agency’s own science advisers. Bloomberg Business. Jan 07 2016
New research reveals fracking involves hundreds of toxics that may pose serious ills and many more that remain unstudied. Huffington Post. Jan 07 2016
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fracking-fluid-health-study_us_568db472e4b0cad15e636b70
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Wednesday made available thousands of pages of documents outlining new rules for the oil and gas industry.
Penn Live, January 06, 2016
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2016/01/dep_announces_new_regulations.html
The number of earthquakes in Oklahoma rose 50 percent last year, scientists and state officials say the increase in earthquakes in Oklahoma likely has been caused by wastewater disposal from oil and gas operations. EnergyWire. Jan 05 2016