Another earthquake hits Oklahoma as concern rises over wastewater injection

State regulators plan Monday to detail their response to the recent earthquakes that have struck near Edmond this week, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission said Friday.

Authorities say a magnitude-4.8 quake in Canada was widely felt across northwest Washington state, but no major damage or injuries have been reported.

The commission is preparing similar actions in response to the December 29 quakes near Edmond, but has not finalized a plan, said spokesman Matt Skinner.

It was the second quake that had a magnitude greater than 4.0 in Edmond in the last four days, as a temblor of 4.3 was recorded Tuesday morning. Numerous earthquakes are occurring in swarms in areas where injection wells pump salty wastewater – a byproduct of oil and gas production – deep into the earth.

By early evening, the USGS reported five more earthquakes in the Edmond area, including a 3.2-magnitude quake about 3:40 p.m. New regulations over the past year have focused on disposal wells that were drilled too deep and that dispose at high volumes and pressures.

The Oklahoma City metropolitan area shook in the new year.