Pennsylvania Studies Link Between Fracking, Lawrence County Earthquakes

"The U.S. Geological Survey says five minor earthquakes originated in an area just west of New Castle in a 22-hour period on Monday, all small tremors between magnitude 1.7 and 1.9, which is below what humans can feel.

The timing and proximity of the Lawrence County earthquakes — originally the geological survey had identified just two — suggest a link to a nearby natural gas fracking operation, but seismologists were being cautious Thursday, saying it is too early to tell definitively if fracking triggered the quakes.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are investigating whether the quakes are associated with hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the natural gas extraction technique that was ongoing at a Hilcorp Energy Co. well pad about a mile from the closest earthquake."

Laura Legere reports for the Pittsburgh Post-GazetteApril 29, 2016.