Statement by Western States Petroleum Association
The issue surrounding the proper permitting of a small number of injection wells in
Kern County is a paperwork issue involving how state regulators have interpreted
decades-old federal regulations. There has never been a bona vide claim or
evidence presented that the paperwork confusion has resulted in any contamination
of drinking water supplies near the disputed injection wells. In fact, recent testing
of nearby wells conducted by the state regulators at the request of the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency found no evidence of contamination. As the State
Water Resources Control Board reported September 13, “Thus far, the test results
indicate that the injection wells have not degraded groundwater quality in the
tested water supply wells.”
The Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources – the state agency tasked with
enforcing federal clean water regulations related to injection wells – has
demonstrated diligence and oversight in addressing and remedying the issue.
It is unfortunate that a handful of injection wells have been closed, impacted energy
production by a few operators in Kern County, while the issue is resolved between
state and federal regulators. It is even more unfortunate that some of the most
extreme anti-oil groups operating in California, including the Center for Biological
Diversity, have chosen to grossly misrepresent the findings of the recent tests.
CBD’s assertions that the tests found evidence of groundwater contamination are
simply false. In fact, the tests found just the opposite.
Tupper Hull
Vice President, Strategic Communications
Western States Petroleum Association
1415 L Street, Suite 600
Sacramento, California 95814