"EPA Looking for Ways To 'Manage Or Minimize' Injection Earthquakes"

"A team from U.S. EPA is preparing recommendations for 'managing or minimizing' earthquakes triggered by oil and gas waste injection wells."

"But the group appears to have receded from its initial goal of finding ways to 'avoid' earthquakes caused by injection.

EPA has not publicized its efforts on earthquakes -- the technical term is 'induced seismicity' -- but it has discussed efforts with state officials, researchers and interest groups.

The document that established the effort, shown to a research panel last year, said EPA's Underground Injection Control program 'can and should implement requirements to protect against significant seismic events.'"

Mike Soraghan reports for EnergyWire March 15, 2012.