Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Preventing Preventable Earthquakes Act”.
Preventing Preventable Earthquakes Act
A BILL
To amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to require that underground injection control programs prevent seismicity induced by underground injection activities, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Seismicity induced by hydraulic fracturing
Prevention of seismicity induced by underground injection activities—
Regulations for State programs— Section 1421(b) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h(b)) is amended—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (C), by striking “and” after the semicolon;
in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(E) shall include provisions designed to prevent the occurrence of seismicity induced by underground injection activities.”
in paragraph (2), by inserting “or are designed to prevent the occurrence of seismicity induced by such injection” after “endangered by such injection”.
State primary enforcement responsibility— Section 1422 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h–1) is amended—
in subsection (a), by inserting “or result in the occurrence of seismicity induced by such injection” after “endanger drinking water sources”;
in subsection (b)(3)—
by inserting “(A)” before “If the Administrator”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(B) The Administrator shall, at least once every 5 years, review each State underground injection control program approved under paragraph (2) to determine if such State program meets the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection.”
in subsection (c), by inserting “or seismicity will not be induced by such injection” after “endangered by such injection”.
Repeal of exemption for hydraulic fracturing— Section 1421(d)(1) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h(d)(1)) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following:
“(B) includes the subsurface emplacement of fluids or propping agents pursuant to hydraulic fracturing operations related to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities.”
Optional demonstration by States relating to oil or natural gas— Section 1425 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300h–4) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “(A) through (D)” and inserting “(A) through (E)”; and
in subsection (b), by striking “(A) through (D)” and inserting “(A) through (E)”.