Official: Williston Earthquake Had Nothing To Do With Fracking

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Written By:
Rob Port

Oct 3, 2012
9:34am

I wrote about this previously, noting that the minor earthquake in Williston a week ago was normal in the context of the history of seismic activity in the region which long pre-dates the fracking activity, and here’s an actual geologist making the same point:

An earthquake near Williston last week is consistent with historical seismic activity in the state’s northwest corner but doesn’t have any connection with hydraulic fracturing, according to a state geologist.

The earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 3.3, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, took place at approximately 5:53 a.m. Friday. It happened about 11 miles southeast of Williston. Fred Anderson, a geologist with the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, said the information was registered by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology.

“It’s consistent with other earthquake events that have occurred in the Williston area in the past,” Anderson said.

I’m sure this won’t stop the environmental hysterics, for whom science doesn’t seem to matter much, but for what it’s worth.