Why Provoke Earthquakes with Fracking in the Valley’s backyard?

Fracking, the process of injecting millions of gallons of water, sand and toxic chemicals underground to release and extract oil, has made a bad name for itself across the country with scientific studies linking it to water contamination, an increase in air pollutants and smog, and most recently, earthquakes. But fracking isn’t something that only happens faraway in states like North Dakota or Pennsylvania – it’s happening right next to the San Fernando Valley.

Just north of Porter Ranch, Aliso Canyon is known for its hiking and equestrian trails, but the fact that SoCal Gas Company (among other operators) has drilled 82 wells – many two miles deep – is lesser known. Six of these wells are wastewater injection wells where massive amounts of carcinogenic fracking wastewater are disposed. It’s these types of wells that have been linked to earthquakes.

Already we are keenly aware that our area is susceptible to seismic activity, and fracking wastewater injection wells will only exacerbate the threat and tempt fate. The U.S. Geological Survey has found that injection wells have induced earthquakes of 4.0 magnitudes in states where seismic activity is not commonplace, like Ohio and Oklahoma. In California, we have over 2,000 fault lines, which produce over 37,000 earthquakes a year. With the increase of fracking and wastewater injection wells in Los Angeles, we could see not only an increase in earthquakes but also an increase in the magnitude of these earthquakes. The Southern California Earthquake Center tells us there is a 37 percent chance that one or more earthquakes of a 7.5 magnitude or greater will occur in the next 30 years in Southern California. 

The Northridge, Devonshire, San Fernando, and Santa Susana fault lines surround the oil field in the Aliso Canyon. The Santa Susana Fault is capable of a 7.3 earthquake and is considered to be the most significant seismic source in the Northern San Fernando Valley according to the Division of Mines and Geology. With all the devastation caused by the 1994 Northridge earthquake, oil companies are playing with fire by fracking near our homes, but we’re the ones who stand to get burned. When drillers roll the dice by fracking and injecting wastewater so close to these fault lines, it’s our health, homes and lives they’re gambling with.

Councilmember Mitch Englander recognizes the serious risk that earthquakes pose to our communities and recently co-authored three motions to make Los Angeles safer in the event of an earthquake. Englander's common sense legislation would "minimize risks, enhance safety, and establish a plan to assure preparedness" when the next big one strikes. Now, the next commonsense measure for him to support is the motion to halt fracking and other extreme extraction methods in Los Angeles.

The motion introduced by Councilmembers Koretz and Bonin in September recognizes the severe and irreversible consequences of fracking and has been embraced by several other councilmembers. Polls from across California show a majority of Californians and Angelenos support a moratorium and Councilmember Englander should support one too. The last thing we need is more reason to fear the ground beneath our feet.