Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Governmental Roles and
Responsibilities Related to
Underground Injection and
Induced Seismicity
Chapter 3 reviewed several instances of seismic activity that may have been induced by
underground injection. Underground injection of fluids is a key component of enhanced
oil recovery, development of some unconventional oil and gas resources such as shale gas,
geothermal energy production, carbon capture and storage, and wastewater disposal, which
is often a part of different kinds of energy technology development. Although seismic events
induced by the underground injection of fluids have been recognized for many decades, few
of these events have captured national attention. However, the recent debate concerning
hydraulic fracturing has brought the issue of induced seismicity to a higher level of public
attention. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is studying this topic
1
concurrently
with this National Research Council study and will publish its own report on this issue. It is
important to note that, although this chapter deals mainly with induced seismicity caused
by or likely related to the underground injection of fluid, induced seismicity can also be
caused by the withdrawal of fluid from underground geologic formations.
Four federal agencies—the EPA, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the
U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)—and different
state agencies have regulatory oversight, research roles, and/or responsibilities related
to different parts of the underground injection activities that are associated with energy
technologies. Understanding these roles and responsibilities is important to the future
development of energy technologies in ways that preserve public safety while allow-
ing development of energy resources. This chapter provides a brief description of each
agency's authority related to underground injection and induced seismicity. States' roles
and responsibilities are also discussed; however, the committee did not perform a com-
prehensive review of all the states that are active in addressing the issue.
1
EPA has been facilitating a National Technical Working Group on Injection Induced Seismicity since mid-2011
and anticipates releasing a report that will contain technical recommendations directed toward injection-induced seismic-
ity specific to Underground Injection Control (UIC) and Class II wells. See http://www.gwpc.org/meetings/uic/2012/
proceedings/09McKenzie_Susie.pdf; P. Dellinger, presentation to the committee, September 2011.
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