Environmental Activist Erin Brockovich Comes To OK, Speaks About Quakes

High seismicity in and around Edmond is calling national attention to Oklahoma including a response from Erin Brockovich. The well-known environmental activist was hosted in town-hall style meetings to address the earthquake controversy.

"Fracking, we knew in the beginning was going to be an issue," she said.

Brockovich said she's aware that it's wastewater from disposal wells that scientists say is directly responsible for the earthquakes, but "its fracking, let's just be honest."

She said, more so than ever, citizens are calling with concerns about structural damage to their homes and want her to help them protect their health, property, and legal rights.

"These people you know, they have rights and their homes are being damaged and structural damage and its cause by a man-made condition," Brockovich blames lack of regulation and is encouraging everyone who's concerned to raise their voices.

She said Oklahomans should review policies, legislation, rules, and regulations.

"There's a lack of enforcement. There’s a whole lot of information that can go out there that can help this community speak up and stand up for themselves,” she said.

Gov. Mary Fallin formed a Coordinating Council on Seismic Activity in 2014, but the job of actually responding to, and trying to prevent earthquakes, has fallen to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, since it regulates oil and gas drilling in the state.

In an email to News 9 today, the Corporation Commission's Matt Skinner pointed out they have been "taking action on wells since the 5.6 M Prague earthquake in 2011."

Skinner says, in just the last 11 months, they've taken 15 actions covering 436 wells, 27 of which have been totally shut down. Skinner also made clear his email was not in response to anything Brockovich might say, but just a statement of facts.

Brockovich said, still, the facts show not enough is being done.

"I think there has to be a hard line draw, I mean we are talking about an industry that could be jeopardizing and destroying the entire state’s water table," she said.

The earthquake forums will also address earthquake preparedness and legal recourse for compensation from earthquake damage.