Oklahoma regulators, agency officials and lawmakers at a capitol hearing on Friday gave a mixed review of the state’s response to earthquakes linked to oil and gas production.
The Senate Energy Committee meeting underscored the ongoing challenge of predicting and preventing potential disaster while preserving the economically vital industry that could cause it.
This meeting was less tense than one held in the same room a year ago. Lawmakers approve of actions by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which is now more aggressively shutting down and limiting fluid injection in shaky areas. Officials praised energy companies for sharing data and voluntarily complying with oil regulators.
Democratic Representative Cory Williams of Stillwater, however, said the state shouldn’t count on the industry’s cooperation.
“If oil goes back up to $100, $110 and they have a disincentive to play along nicely with us, do we have the ability to say, ‘We don’t need your voluntary compliance. Here it is. Take it or leave it, and if you don’t like it, you don’t play here anymore.’,” Williams asked.
The hearing was part of an interim study, which often hint at issues that the Legislature could take up in February. Corporation Commissioners have recently suggested lawmakers might need to officially reaffirm the commission’s authority to act over earthquake concerns.
