Recent B.C. earthquakes linked to fracking as regulator tightens oversight

The British Columbia Energy Regulator is toughening its oversight of “induced” seismic activity after a series of earthquakes linked to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the northeastern corner of the province.John Cassidy, a seismologist with Natural Resources Canada, says the regulator has confirmed that four quakes between last Saturday and Wednesday were related to the gas industry practice.The quakes ranged in magnitude from 3.1 to 4.7, with the most powerful felt in Fort St. John, B.C., about 105 kilometres southeast of the epicentre.