Insurers asked to send clarifying notice of quake coverage

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma’s insurance commissioner is asking insurance companies to send customers a notice to clarify whether their policies cover earthquake damage caused by things like mining or oil and gas exploration.

Commissioner John D. Doak said Tuesday insurers have 45 days to issue the notices to policyholders and insurance agents.

Doak says historically, earthquake insurance has excluded earth movement resulting from human activities such as mining, explosives and oil and gas exploration.

The Oklahoma Geological Survey has determined that the majority of the quakes in Oklahoma are more than likely the result of wastewater injection into disposal wells.

Doak says some companies have amended policy forms to cover damage from wastewater injection, while others have waived the man-made exclusion. He says a third group still excludes quakes induced by wastewater injection.