Earthquake Response Legislation Passes Oklahoma House Panel

Legislation that reaffirms the Oklahoma Corporation’s Commission’s authority to respond to emergencies involving oil and natural gas production in the state, including drilling-related earthquakes, has been approved by a state House committee.

The House Rules Committee this week voted 10-0 to send the measure to the full House for a vote.

The bill by Republican House Speaker Jeff Hickman of Fairview clarifies the Corporation Commission’s authority to respond to emergency situations, including hundreds of earthquakes in recent years that regulators have concluded were likely induced by the injection into the earth of wastewater from oil and gas drilling operations.

Hickman says the measure authorizes the Corporation Commission to take whatever action is necessary “without so much as a hearing” to respond to emergencies.

Related:

• Oklahoma Agency Gets Grant for Well-Tracking System
• Oklahoma Agency Calls for Cuts in Wastewater Well Volumes to Stem Quakes
• Oklahoma Orders Reduction in Wastewater Disposal after Quakes
• Earthquakes May Be the ‘800-Pound Gorilla’ in Oklahoma Legislature
• Oklahoma Governor OKs $1.4M in State Funds for Earthquake Research