A large jump in the number of earthquakes in southern Kansas has roused accusations that hydraulic fracking in the region is to blame. Although it is difficult to directly tie fracking to a specific earthquake, a ramp up in fracking in the region in recent years, particularly fracking associated with horizontal wells, has coincided with a rise in seismic activity.

The Numbers

The Washington Post reports that there were 52 earthquakes in Kansas between October 15 and October 26. Historical numbers from the Kansas Geological Survey show only 19 earthquakes in the state in the 20-year stretch from 1990 to 2010. In addition, the number of annual statewide earthquakes has spiked from only four in 2013 to 817 in 2014.

How Can Fracking Cause Earthquakes?

Hydraulic fracking involves…

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