Congratulations to the Kansas Corporation Commission for taking some action aimed at curbing earthquake activity in two south-central Kansas counties.

While researchers and legislators continue to debate whether the disposal of waste water from oil and gas drilling is related to increased earthquake activity in parts of Kansas, the KCC is taking a step that may help resolve that debate while also providing some relief to residents of the area.

Following a hearing in Wichita last week, the KCC ordered drilling companies to drastically reduce the amount of saltwater they pump into injection wells in five “areas of seismic concern” in Sumner and Harper counties. Within 10 days of the order, the operators must limit their water disposal in these wells to 16,000 barrels a day. That must be reduced to 12,000 barrels per day within 55 days and to 8,000 barrels a day within 100 days for a total reduction of up to 60 percent.

The injection wells that will be affected represent a small fraction of the active wells in the area known as the Arbuckle formation, according to the KCC, but the order targets wells that appear to be located near a geological fault line. The increased pressure of the injected waste water may be related to increased earthquake activity in the area.

This is not a small issue for residents of the area. Between 1977 and 2012, there were two earthquakes in Harper and Sumner counties that registered 2.0 or higher on the Richter scale. Since Jan. 1, 2013, there have been 159 such quakes. A resident of the area who testified at the Wichita hearing said he often feels small temblors in his home several times a day.

The KCC most often makes the news when it is considering requested rate increases from Kansas utilities, but last week’s order is a reminder that the agency plays a broad role in regulating Kansas utilities. Despite opposition from oil producers in the area, the KCC came down on the side of Kansas residents whose lives and property are being damaged and disrupted by the new earthquake activity and, for that, commissioners deserve a pat on the back.