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RRC Says Weak Link Between Wells & Quakes

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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Two wastewater wells connected to a swarm of earthquakes in Tarrant County and Parker County will not have any changes to their permits. The Railroad Commission of Texas voted unanimously Tuesday morning to accept a proposal saying there was only a weak correlation between the wells and the seismic activity.

Hundreds of earthquakes started shaking around the cities of Azle and Reno in November 2013. A study from researchers at SMU later concluded that wastewater disposal was the most likely cause.

An analysis from examiners at the RRC in late August found that the study did not establish enough of a link between the wells and the fault line where it ruptured at a depth of 20,000 feet. Examiners also wrote that the evidence did not support that the quakes were entirely natural.

The wells are operated by XTO Energy and Enervest Operating.

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