Authorities in British Columbia have issued a suspension order after BC Hydro and Power Authority became aware of a water disposal well for a hydraulic fracturing operation "within a few" kilometers of one of its hydroelectric facilities.

BC Hydro said in a March 27 news release that its engineers immediately communicated its concerns to the BC Oil and Gas Commission about the well, which is near the 700-MW Peace Canyon power facility.

The company noted the British Columbia Ministry of Natural Gas Development has previously put restrictions allowing no new fracking ventures within 5 kilometers of BC Hydro's generating facilities.

BC Hydro said in the release that disposal wells can cause "stronger seismic events over a larger area than those caused by fracking," so a 5-kilometer buffer zone is not large enough for projects like Peace Canyon.