The Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) said on July 18th that it will conduct a full review of the state’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program to ensure it complies with requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The announcement came two weeks after DOGGR issued emergency orders to shut down 11 Kern County waste water injection wells. It later lifted two of those orders.
The review, which will be conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will take 12 to 18 months, said DOGGR.
The review will examine both previously approved UIC wells as well as current approval practices, to ensure that they are consistent across the state and that injections comply with state and federal laws and regulations.
On July 2nd DOGGR ordered seven oil production companies to immediately shut down 11 waste water disposal wells in Kern County “to avoid potential harm to a limited number of groundwater aquifers,” the agency said.
DOGGR lifted the shut-down order on two of the 11 wells on July 18th, the same day it announced the statewide review, noting that state and local water quality agencies will closely monitor these wells.
A news report in the Bakersfield Californian said state regulators are scrutinizing 95 additional injection wells, all of which are operating under permits granted by the state. The newspaper said the locations of these wells was not disclosed by DOGGR.
DOGGR said the UIC review is intended to make sure waste water associated with oil production is not being injected into aquifers containing water suitable for human or agricultural use. There are about 1,500 injection wells in the state. The agency said revisions to present rules will be considered during the review process.
DOGGR said it “became aware that some wells might be injecting into non-exempt zones” of aquifers while reviewing documents related to implementation of SB 4, the state’s new law regarding the use of well stimulation. The waste water disposal wells whose permits were suspended “appeared to be injecting into protected sources of groundwater,” DOGGR’s announcement said.
Steve Bohlen, State Oil and Gas Supervisor and head of DOGGR, said, “We shut these wells down and ordered the operators to provide information and conduct testing to ensure human and environmental health and safety are not at risk.”
Jason Marshall, Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Conservation, of which DOGGR is a part, said, “The UIC Primacy Agreement is now over 30 years old and there are many changes in industry practices and technology that merit inclusion in any revision of UIC regulations.”
DOGGR has primary authority under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act to regulate underground injection wells related to oil and gas operations in California, granted by the U.S. EPA.
The EPA is reviewing the California UIC program In conjunction with DOGGR. The results of the DOGGR and EPA review will guide future changes in the state’s UIC program, the agencies stated.