"Californians expect their water is not being polluted by oil producers...this poses a very real danger." That's according to the federal EPA, which has found that the state has allowed contaminated waste from oil drilling to be injected into underground water supplies that could be used for drinking or irrigation. The issue is more urgent than ever because three years of drought have reduced the water supply in Kern County, where most oil drilling occurs and where the injection wells are located. David Baker has reported the story extensively for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Is California Separating Oil and Water?
More
- Oil and gas; well stimulation (SB 4)
- California Council on Science and Technology assessment of well stimulation treatments, including fracking in California
- Center for Biological Diversity on oil industry wastewater illegally injected into central California aquifers
- Western States Petroleum Association's reponse to LA Times allegations of the sumps (ponds) in oil production regions in the San Joaquin Valley
- LA Times on illicit oil wastewater pits in Kern County
- Department of Conservation and State Water Resources Control Board response to EPA on underground injection control
Credits
Guests:
- David Baker - San Francisco Chronicle - @davidbakersf
- Steve Bohlen - California Department of Conservation - @CalConservation
- Kassie Siegel - Center for Biological Diversity - @CenterForBioDiv
- Tupper Hull - Western States Petroleum Association - @OfficialWSPA