Officials said Saturday they believe the latest earthquake activity in northeast Ohio is related to the injection of wastewater into the ground near a fault line, creating enough pressure to cause seismic activity.
The brine wastewater comes from drilling operations that use a process called “fracking” process to extract gas from underground shale. Officials with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources deny that fracking is the cause of the quakes.
Environmentalists and property owners who live near gas drilling wells have questioned the safety of fracking to the environment and public health. In response, Federal regulators have declared the technology safe.
There are four injection wells within a five-mile radius of an already shuttered well in Youngstown and those will remain inactive while further scientific research is conducted.
A 4.0 magnitude quake Saturday afternoon in McDonald, outside of Youngstown, was the 11th in a series of minor earthquakes in area, many of which have struck near the Youngstown injection well. The quake caused no serious injuries or property damage.
Thousands of gallons of brine had been injected into the well daily until its owner, Northstar Disposal Services LLC, agreed Friday to stop injecting brine into the earth as a precaution while authorities assess any potential links to the quakes.
A spokesman with the Ohio Seismic Network said Saturday that more quakes are possible, most likely small ones, until the pressure at the fault line has been completely relieved.
The quake on Saturday appeared to be stronger than others, which generally had a magnitude of 2.7 or lower. Some residents reported feeling trembling farther south into Columbiana County and east into western Pennsylvania.
Area residents said a loud boom accompanied the shaking. It sent some stunned residents running for cover as bookshelves shook and pictures and lamps fell from tables.
There are 177 similar injection wells around the state, but the Youngstown area well has been the only site with seismic activity. There are no plans to shut down the others.
