Lecture considers fracking-earthquake relationship

YOUNGSTOWN

Eastern Ohio experienced more than 1,000 earthquakes from 2011 to 2014.

That number was provided by Ray Beiersdorfer, a Youngstown State University geology professor, as part of weekly lecture series in YSU’s Cushwa Hall.

After bringing speakers to YSU two years ago, Beiersdorfer wanted to take it a step further.

“I decided to organize a weekly series,” he said. The first series took place last fall.

Wednesday night, Beiersdorfer talked about the link between fracking and seismic events in eastern Ohio, noting that more than 566 earthquakes have occurred in the Youngstown area, 77 in Poland and two in Niles. Harrison County, south of Columbiana County, has had more than 400, he said.

Oil and gas companies, he contended, should prove to regulators that the area is safe for operations.

Read the complete story in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.