The state of California’s Department of Conservation has enacted emergency rules to regulate underground oil and gas injection wells because of concerns that the wells may be contaminating California drinking water aquifers. As a result of the emergency rules, injections have been shutdown.
The Department of Conservation’s rule sets a schedule for the EPA and California agencies to eliminate all injection into drinking water aquifers, and to ensure that California oil and gas activities are in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The California Department of Conservation’s notice of proposed rulemaking for the Class II underground injection well program can be found at www.conservation.ca.gov. The state Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources proposed the rulemaking to the EPA in February 2015. In March, the state shut in 12 wells which were not in compliance.
However, not all states are restricting injection wells. The growth in the fracking industry has led to a growth in the injection well disposal industry in Ohio. Ohio’s geology is well-suited to injection wells. Much of the wastewater disposed of in Ohio comes from fracked wells in Pennsylvania. As of July 2014, the state reported 200 active injection wells in Ohio, according to the Department of Natural Resources’ website.
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