As the number of earthquakes rise in a once earthquake-free state, the state of Oklahoma has chosen to step in and set some ground rules. The amount of earthquakes have gradually been increasing for past six years. When the earthquakes first began in 2010, there were only three that were recorded with a magnitude above 3. In 2015, there were 907 earthquakes with a magnitude above 3. 2016 is already paving the way for more quakes with 160 in the last three months. Oklahoma regulators have requested that oil and gas industries now reduce the amount of oil and gas liquids being injected into the ground by 40%. The regulators are focusing this request on a location the size of Connecticut with around 411 injection wells.

The government and state Legislature had been denying the correlation between the oil and gas industry and the increase in earthquakes in the state. A seismologist reminded the state that due to the increased number of quakes, there could also be an extremely brutal and awakening quake on the way. The reason for the increased number of earthquakes in the state of Oklahoma is because of the increased number of injection wells in the state as well. Due to the 40% cutback of waste injection, there could be a decrease in production as well.