Following reports that the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) erroneously issued exemption permits for hundreds of oil injection wells into water basins with potentially drinkable or irrigable water, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson introduced legislation last week that would, among other things, prohibit oil operators from keeping confidential records. “It’s been a series of incompetence or malfeasance,” Jackson said of the state agency. Currently, 71 active wells in Santa Barbara County are injecting wastewater into aquifers and are under review along with hundreds across the state.
