Environmental group sues over earthquakes

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – An environmental advocacy group is suing three Oklahoma energy companies, seeking an immediate drop in wastewater injection volume.

The Sierra Club filed the lawsuit Tuesday, the same day the Oklahoma Corporation Commission told well operators in northwestern Oklahoma to reduce disposal volumes. The group blames an increasing number of earthquakes on wastewater disposal from hydraulic fracturing operations at Chesapeake Operating, Devon Energy Production Co. and New Dominion.

Devon spokesman John Porretto says it would be inappropriate to discuss the litigation. The other companies didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.

The lawsuit was filed three days after the state’s third-strongest temblor, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake in northwestern Oklahoma. People in 14 states reported feeling Saturday’s quake – including some in Georgia, 900 miles away.