SB 454: Protecting drinking water from oil & gas

Currently, California’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) issues permits for oil and gas injection wells. If a well is judged not to threaten drinking water, an aquifer exemption is granted, subject to final U.S. EPA review. SB 454 would have protected groundwater by requiring the State Water Board to also review aquifer exemption applications, in response to revelations that more than 2,500 wells were improperly permitted by DOGGR.