MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On September 3, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit the area near Pawnee, becoming the strongest tremor ever recorded in the history of the state. At least one person was injured by the natural disaster.
"By disposing of fracking wastewater deep into the earth, Defendants introduced contaminants into the natural environment that caused an adverse change to it in the form of unnatural seismic activity. In other words, due to Defendants' pollution of the environment, they caused the man-made earthquake at issue in the case…. In order words, due to Defendants’ pollution of the environment they caused the man-made earthquakes at issue in this case," the lawsuit, cited by the Radio Oklahoma Network, read.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a technique of extracting shale gas and oil by injecting pressurized toxic liquid into the ground. Opponents of fracking argue the process poses numerous health, safety and environmental risks, including the potential for fracking fluids and waste to leak into water as well as the large volume of water used.
