[GPSCC-chat] 3 Billion Gallon Oil Wastewater Contamination in Central Valley

[perrysandy at aol.com]

Center for BiologicalDiversity
For Immediate Release,October 6, 2014
Contact: HollinKretzmann, (415) 436-9683 x 333 or hkretzmann at biologicaldiversity.org
Documents RevealBillions of Gallons of Oil Industry Wastewater Illegally Injected 
Into Central California Aquifers
Tests Find ElevatedArsenic, Thallium Levels in Nearby Water Wells
SAN FRANCISCO—Almost 3 billion gallons of oil industry wastewater have been illegally dumpedinto central California aquifers that supply drinking water and farming irrigation,according to state documents obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity.The wastewater entered the aquifers through at least nine injection disposal wells used by the oil industry to dispose of wastecontaminated with fracking fluids and other pollutants. 
The documents alsoreveal that Central Valley Water Board testing found high levels of arsenic, thallium and nitrates —contaminants sometimes found in oil industry wastewater — inwater-supply wells near these waste-disposal operations. 
“Clean water is one ofCalifornia’s most crucial resources, and these documents make it clear thatstate regulators have utterly failed to protect our water from oil industrypollution,” said Hollin Kretzmann, a Center attorney. “Much more testing is neededto gauge the full extent of water pollution and the threat to public health.But Governor Brown should move quickly to halt fracking to ward off a surge inoil industry wastewater that California simply isn’t prepared to dispose ofsafely.”
The state’s Water Board confirmed beyond doubt that at least nine wastewater disposal wells havebeen injecting waste into aquifers that contain high-quality water that issupposed to be protected under federal and state law. 
Thallium is an extremelytoxic chemical commonly used in rat poison. Arsenic is a toxic chemical thatcan cause cancer. Some studies show that even low-level exposure to arsenic indrinking water can compromise the immune system’s ability to fight illness.
“Arsenic and thalliumare extremely dangerous chemicals,” said Timothy Krantz, a professor ofenvironmental studies at the University of Redlands. “The fact that highconcentrations are showing up in multiple water wells close to wastewaterinjection sites raises major concerns about the health and safety of nearbyresidents.” 
The Center obtained aletter from the State Water Resources Control Board to the EnvironmentalProtection Agency. The letter says that the Central Valley Regional Water Boardhas confirmed that injection wells have been dumping oil industry waste intoaquifers that are legally protected under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.The state Water Board also concedes that another 19 wells may also havecontaminated protected aquifers, and dozens more have been injecting waste intoaquifers of unknown quality. 
The Central Valley WaterBoard tested eight water-supply wells out of more than 100 in the vicinity ofthese injection wells. Arsenic, nitrate and thallium exceeded the maximumcontaminant level in half the water samples. 
While the current extentof contamination is cause for grave concern, the long-term threat posed by theunlawful wastewater disposal may be even more devastating. Benzene, toluene andother harmful chemicals used in fracking fluid are routinely found in flowbackwater coming out of oil wells in California, often at levels hundreds of timeshigher than what is considered safe, and this flowback fluid is sent towastewater disposal wells. Underground migration of chemicals like benzene cantake years. 
In July the state’sDivision of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources shut down 11 Kern County oil fieldinjection wells and began scrutinizing almost 100 others that were potentiallycontaminating protected groundwater. The Environmental Protection Agency, whichhas ultimate legal authority over underground injection, ordered stateofficials to provide an assessment of the water-contamination risk within 60days, and the letter from the state Water Board confirms that illegalcontamination has occurred at multiple sites.
California’s oil and gasfields produce billions of gallons of contaminated wastewater each year, andmuch of this contaminated fluid is injected underground. California has anestimated 2,583 wastewater injections wells, of which 1,552 are currentlyactive. Wastewater injection wells are located throughout the state, from theChico area in Northern California to Los Angeles in the south, and even includeoffshore wells near Santa Barbara.
TheCenter for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservationorganization with more than 775,000 members and online activists dedicated to theprotection of endangered species and wild places. 

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