On Tuesday, just days after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake hit near Pawnee, Oklahoma, federal regulators shut down 17 wastewater disposal wells in northeastern Oklahoma's Osage Nation.
The Saturday quake matched Oklahoma's strongest temblor on record, The Associated Press reports, and one man was injured when part of a fireplace fell on him. Some buildings on the Stillwater campus of Oklahoma State University and 11 homes also sustained damages, officials said. Scientists have linked an increase in quakes magnitude 3.0 or greater to the injection of saltwater, a byproduct of oil and gas production, into deep disposal wells. The 17 wells are on tribal land, which state regulators do not have jurisdiction over, and are located in a 211-square-mile area within Osage County. "We have no data whatsoever on oil and gas activity in Osage County," Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Matt Skinner told AP. "We don't know how many [wells]. We don't know how deep. We know nothing about them."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
What happens if TikTok is banned?Today's Big Question Many are fearful that TikTok's demise could decimate the content creator community
-
The unparalleled leader of the gentle parenting movementIn the Spotlight Dr. Becky became the face of a revolution in how we treat our children
-
One Great Cookbook: Madhur Jaffrey's 'Vegetarian India'The Week Recommends The 2015 tome will reshape how you think about both vegetables and Indian food
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopicsSpeed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 GrammysSpeed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
