Fracking May Have Caused Earthquakes

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More:  France became the first country in the world to ban hydraulic fracturing as a method to recover natural gas from shale rock.  The French Senate voted along party lines to join the National Assembly in banning the process on June 30th.  Drilling permit holders must notify the government in two months what extraction technique they use or face automatic revocation of their permits.

{1.6.11}The residents and visitors of Blackpool, the traditional British seaside resort, are definitely not accustomed to the earth shaking beneath their feet. British ministers put a halt to nearby experimental fracking in methane bearing shales after two minor earthquakes occurred in the last two months. The process of hydraulic fracturing of source rock to release natural gas is highly controversial in Europe, although its use in the United States is widespread and increasing. A ban on fracking is under consideration by the French Senate after already passing the Assembly. Near Blackpool, a 1.5 temblor occurred last week and a 2.3 earthquake occurred in April in the same area. The British Geological Service said both events were within 2 kms of the drilling site and at shallow depth. It also said that hydraulic fracturing is known to trigger small earthquakes. The drilling company is cooperating with a scientific investigation of the events. Some British politicians have dismissed concerns about the safety of fracking as "hot air". But then they can't light their tap water, can they?