Weekly Green: March 5, 2015

» Hello and welcome to a special edition of the Weekly Green. This week, we’ve dedicated our environmental news roundup to our top story: In California, Oilfield Wells Inject Wastewater into Protected Aquifers. With major developments occurring in the last few days, reporters from a wide array of news media are covering the topic. We bring you those stories now. Additionally, we urge our Weekly Green subscribers to actively respond today by speaking out: Sign our petition to Governor Brown at http://ecovote.org/WaterAlert >>

– California League of Conservation Voters

WEEKLY GREEN SPECIAL EDITION
In California, Oilfield Wells Inject Wastewater into Protected Aquifers
Extensive Media Coverage On This Top Story

California orders 12 oil-field wells shut to protect groundwater
Los Angeles Times (Chris Megerian)
California officials, responding to concerns about groundwater contamination, are closing 12 wells in the Central Valley used to dispose of chemical-laden water from oil and gas production, regulators announced Tuesday.
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0304-wells-closed-20150304-story.html
 
State Admits That Thousands of Oil Wells Are Dumping into Protected Aquifers
NBC Bay Area (Stephen Stock, Mark Villareal and Scott Pham)
In a stunning admission, the California Environmental Protection Agency wrote on Monday that state officials have allowed thousands of oil and fracking wells to dump waste water into protected underground aquifers.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/State-Admits-That-Thousands-of-Oil-Wells-Are-Dumping-into-Protected-Aquifers-294931661.html
 
State shuts in a dozen more injection wells
Bakersfield Californian (John Cox)
Twelve more Kern County wastewater injection wells are being closed to safeguard federally protected groundwater, doubling the number of local disposal facilities shut in since early July, state regulators announced Tuesday.
http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/oil/x406539158/State-orders-another-12-injection-wells-closed
 
California shuts down oil wells to protect groundwater
Associated Press (Scott Smith)
A dozen wells used to pump oil and gas in California's Central Valley have been ordered to stop production to protect underground drinking water from contamination, officials said Tuesday.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/State-shuts-12-oil-company-wells-that-pumped-6112846.php
 
California halts 12 injection wells over water concerns
Rueters (Rory Carroll)
California oil drilling regulators on Tuesday ordered operators of 12 underground injection wells in Kern County to halt injections out of fear that they could contaminate drinking water supplies.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/04/us-california-oildrilling-water-idUSKBN0M000L20150304
 
State shuts 12 oil company wells that pumped waste into aquifers
San Francisco Chronicle (David Baker)
State officials have ordered oil companies to shut 12 more wells that injected oil-field wastewater into drinkable aquifers beneath California’s drought-stricken Central Valley, regulators reported Tuesday.
http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/State-shuts-12-oil-company-wells-that-pumped-6112846.php
 
Chevron, Linn Told to Halt California Wells on Water Concern
Bloomberg (Michael B Marois and Lynn Doan)
California regulators ordered oil drillers including Chevron Corp. and Linn Energy LLC to halt operations at 12 injection wells in the state because of concerns they may taint groundwater.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-03/chevron-linn-ordered-to-shut-california-wells-on-water-concerns

California Regulators Order Oil and Gas Companies to Stop Drilling
Ring of Fire (Amy Eddings)
Regulators in California ordered 12 oil and gas wells in Central Valley to stop drilling over growing concerns that groundwater near the wells may become contaminated.
http://www.ringoffireradio.com/2015/03/california-regulators-order-oil-and-gas-companies-to-stop-drilling/

California Orders Oil Companies To Stop Drilling Near Drinking Water Supplies
Think Progress (Ari Phillips)
Oil companies Chevron Corp. and Linn Energy LLC voluntarily stopped production at 10 of the Central Valley wells, while the two other wells were given cease-and-desist orders.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/03/04/3629578/california-halts-oil-drilling-at-12-wells/

More California Oil Industry Wastewater Injection Wells Shut Down Over Fears Of Groundwater Contamination
Desmog Blog (Mike Gaworecki)
The latest in the ongoing investigation into California regulators’ failure to protect residents from toxic oil industry waste streams has led to the closure of 12 more underground injection wells. The 12 wells that were shut down this week are all in the Central Valley region, ground zero for oil production in the state.
http://www.desmogblog.com/2015/03/05/more-oil-industry-wastewater-injection-wells-shut-down-over-groundwater-contamination

12 More Wells Closed for Pumping Wastewater into Aquifers
AllGov (Ken Broder)
It doesn’t take a Greek philosopher to figure out that if no one asked oil companies if they were drilling injection wells and pumping toxic chemicals into otherwise clean aquifers, the activity would go undetected. After decades of drilling, amplified by new technological extraction processes like hydraulic fracturing (fracking), people are starting to look.
http://www.allgov.com/usa/ca/news/top-stories/12-more-wells-closed-for-pumping-wastewater-into-aquifers-150305?news=855860

California Orders Injection Wells Closed; More Under Scrutiny
NGI's Shale Daily (Richard Nemec)
California regulators moved Tuesday to close 12 oil and gas underground injection wells in Kern County and are reviewing others to ensure that the state’s drinking water is protected from contamination.
http://www.naturalgasintel.com/articles/101565-california-orders-injection-wells-closed-more-under-scrutiny

State orders oil field waste-water wells shut down
Bakersfield Eyewitness News (Carol Ferguson)
The state on Tuesday ordered a dozen Kern County waste-water injection wells to be shut down. Officials with the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources told Eyewitness News they checked these 12 wells first, because they're closest to other wells used for drinking or agricultural water.
http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/State-orders-oil-field-waste-water-wells-shut-down-294934141.html

Local oil companies react to injection well shut-in order
Bakersfield Eyewitness News (Carol Ferguson)
Six companies were hit by the state action, and Chevron officials said they're already making plans for alternate ways to dispose of the so-called "produced water."
http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/Local-oil-companies-react-to-injection-well-shut-in-order-295103821.html

Calif. Shuts Oil Field Wells Amid Groundwater Probe
Law360 (Keith Goldberg)
California regulators on Tuesday ordered the operators of 12 underground injection wells in the heart of the state’s oil production region to cease using them as regulators conduct a statewide review of injection related to the oil and gas industry and potential threats to groundwater.
http://www.law360.com/articles/627605/calif-shuts-oil-field-wells-amid-groundwater-probe

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