An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 that struck the Utah-Colorado border in 2004 may have been caused by a federal facility that pumps salty water 14,000 feet into the earth's crust

Nutrition Health Review, Summer, 2004

AN EARTHQUAKE WITH A MAGNITUDE OF 3.9 that struck the Utah-Colorado border in 2004 may have been caused by a federal facility that pumps salty water 14,000 feet into the earth's crust. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation facility removes salt from the Dolores River, but some researchers say that the process can also lubricate faults.

Andy Nichols, manager of the federal facility, said that the facility was probably associated with the pumping process. He also said that the last large earthquake in that area happened in May 2000 and registered 4.3 on the Richter scale.

Several of these incidents have led government Officials to reduce the amount of brine injected by a third.