EPA Calls For Injection Well Moratorium In OK

Inside the EPA's annual report, the agency is taking what seems to be a strong stance.

It is recommending the Oklahoma Corporation Commission consider a moratorium on specific seismically active areas and implement new policy to prevent new injection activities in restricted areas. 

The report, which focused on FY 2015, was released Sept. 22 and only recently released to the public. Since the 27-page report was issued, there have been significant shifts in well shutdowns and reductions along with a record setting earthquake. 

“This is a rear view mirror look. It's been a year and four months since the end date that that report covers,” OCC spokesman Matt Skinners said. “For that time period, the issue of more aggressive well shut downs which is a way of interpreting what the EPA is talking about in that report and it's what we've done since then."

But not everyone thinks the state and EPA are on the same page. In the industry publication Energy Wire, the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association's Vice Chair Kim Hatfield called the report an "overreach." 

"I find it surprising they came out with this," he said.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R, who chairs the senate committee for energy and the environment said, in part, "the EPA's involvement in the Arbuckle is unnecessary."

Skinner said corporation commissioners do want more clarification on what active areas the EPA is talking about and what policies they mean, but until then they'll continue what's been done.

“Do we need more science? Of course, but are we going to continue forward with actions that include well shut-ins? I think we can assume the answer is yes,” Skinner said.