On Tuesday, March 3, twelve underground injection control (“UIC”) wells in California’s Central Valley, specifically in Kern County, were shut down in order to protect subsurface drinking water from potential contamination. These shut-ins occurred just one day after a letter from Matthew Rodriquez, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, to the Governor was published,
DOGGR to Review Well Stimulation Regulations to Ensure Compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act
On Friday, July 18, 2014, the Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (“DOGGR”) announced that it will review California’s Underground Injection Control (“UIC”) Program to ensure compliance with the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (“the Act”). DOGGR has primary authority under the Act to regulate underground injection wells, granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“USEPA”). DOGGR will conduct the review in conjunction with the USEPA, and expects the review to be completed in 12-18 months.
Originally enacted in 1974 and amended in 1996, the Act aims “to protect public health by regulating the nation’s public drinking water supply.” (EPA, Safe Drinking Water Act). The Act is applicable to well stimulation regulations because it has authority over ground water wells, excluding private wells that serve fewer than 25 people. Protections are designed to prevent oil and gas production wastewater from being injected into drinking water aquifers.Continue Reading DOGGR to Review Well Stimulation Regulations to Ensure Compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act
Central Valley Long Term Irrigated Lands Program
The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Region (Board) has recently released its long anticipated Long Term Irrigated Lands Program. The Board at its April 2010 meeting will consider the framework of the Program, a Programmatic EIR and a continuation of the current general order for another 3 years.
The proposed framework is