Earthquakes were another concern, particularly after swarms were felt in Oklahoma. Follow-on studies attributed these quakes not to drilling but rather to disposing of wastewater in inappropriate locations, causing slippage of rock formations and thus quakes. With new regulation of where wastewater could be disposed and at what pressure, the number of earthquakes fell sharply. Much has been learned about managing the impacts on rural communities, including noise and the number of trucks on local roads, while at the same time meeting those communities’ needs for jobs and new sources of income.
