From 1977 to 2012, there were only 34 earthquakes in Kansas that were strong enough to feel. In 2013 and 2014, that number rose to 115.

Arguing about whether that increase is tied to fracking per se or to the oil extraction process that results from the use of fracking isn’t very fruitful. What state officials should be talking about is how to address a problem that already is causing at least minor property damage to some Kansas homes.

According to the Kansas Geological Survey, there is no indication that earthquakes are more likely to occur when drilling companies are using hydraulic fracturing, fracking, as part of the drilling process. However, there does seem to be a correlation between the quakes and the increased use of injection wells used to dispose of massive amounts of saltwater that are a byproduct of the drilling and extraction process.

The amount of water used — and disposed of — as part of this process has increased, in part, because of the increased use of horizontal wells instead of the more traditional vertical wells. In addition to the earthquake issue, Kansans might also be concerned about how much of the state’s precious water resources are being committed to this process.

The Geological Survey has set up some equipment to monitor earthquake activity in the affected area and now believes a fault line runs though Sumner County. It is considering the possibility that the quakes might be related to saltwater injection wells being too close to that fault line.

It’s great that the Geological Survey is working to pinpoint the cause of the quakes, but it’s hard to tell how long it will take to come up with a definitive answer. Finding alternatives for disposing of the saltwater waste might provide a quicker solution but the options explored so far are considered too expensive, according to industry experts.

It’s good to investigate the science on this issue, but this situation may require some action before definitive scientific data can be gathered. Putting limits on the oil and gas industry would hurt the state economy, officials say, but allowing this situation to continue invites legal action from property owners or new restrictions from federal regulators. Kansas oil and gas producers can still get ahead of those actions, but they need to act quickly to identify and mitigate this problem.