Sunday, March 6, 2011

Injection Wells, Arkansas Earthquakes and Detroit Pensions

Nearly 900 earthquakes have rocked Arkansas over the last six months. The state is situated along the New Madrid fault line, but the number of quakes is highly unusual. The culprit may be injection wells. Arkansas has ordered a temporary halt to them. An investigation has started.


March 5 Wall St. Journal

Arkansas authorities on Friday ordered two companies to temporarily stop injecting wastewater into deep underground storage wells, as regulators investigate whether they are linked to a recent spate of earthquakes in the area.
Chesapeake Energy Corp. and Clarita Operating LLC didn't oppose the order affecting the two storage wells but said their operations weren't related to the 850 or so mostly minor quakes that have agitated north-central Arkansas since September.
"We remain confident that the facts and science will lead to a more constructive and satisfactory conclusion to this matter," said Danny Games Sr., a Chesapeake official in Arkansas, in a statement.


Injection wells are a source of controversy. Environmentalists say injection wells are dangerous and will have long term ecological ramifications. Toxic waste industries say burying hazardous materials in the earth is safe and creates jobs. After all, toxic waste has to go somewhere.

Both sides have valid points. Are the earthquakes part of a natural cycle? Does injecting liquid into the ground force earth upward causing earthquakes? The conclusion of the Arkansas investigation will be interesting.

If injection wells are causing earthquakes, Detroit and Romulus will have missed a bullet. Beginning in 1994 Romulus residents and environmental activists have battled against a proposed injection well. And for a brief moment, two deep-injection hazardous waste wells operated for 10 months before being shut down in 2006. Leaks were found during a routine inspection.

It didn't end there. The battle continued. Romulus residents continued to fight and even enlisted the help of Rep. John Dingell. Pressure from Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick helped persuade the Detroit fire and police pension boards to invest in the injection wells. The move became a target of an F.B.I. investigation. The pension board system invested millions and lost.

As of today the injection wells stand silent and there are no strange earthquakes. Thanks, in part, to the bumbling of the corrupt Kilpatrick. However, the issue may rise again. A new company or investor could apply for permits to resume operations.

Of course, the investigation in Arkansas might be the game ender.

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