The Kansas House Energy and Environment Committee will hear an update Tuesday on hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas--commonly called "fracking"-- in the state.
Officials from several state agencies and the Kansas Geological Survey will also tell the committee about the potential connection between fracking and increased seismic activity.
As new technology allows extraction in difficult geological formations, Kansas has seen an increase in oil and gas exploration in southern counties.
Fracking involves high-pressure injections of liquid into underground rock to release trapped fossil fuels.
Fracking has been suspected of causing increased seismic activity in parts of the U.S. that typically aren't prone to earthquakes.
