Oklahoma energy companies want earthquake lawsuit dismissed

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Three Oklahoma energy companies want a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit demanding they reduce injection volumes at wastewater disposal wells that could be triggering earthquakes.

The lawsuit was filed in February by members of the Oklahoma Sierra Club. The lawsuit, filed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, asks that Devon Energy Corp., Chesapeake Energy Corp. and New Dominion LLC reduce production waste at wells that could cause earthquakes.

The Oklahoma reports the three companies say in legal filings that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission is already taking action to reduce volumes of wastewater in disposal wells.

The commission has issued a series of voluntary directives covering more than 600 Arbuckle disposal wells. In addition, the Coordinating Council on Seismic Activity brings together regulators, researchers and energy industry representatives.