oil and gas wastewater

New analysis finds big impacts in oil producing states

California’s efforts to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions have earned it a reputation as a climate leader. Most of the state’s actions, however, have focused on the “demand-side” of carbon emissions: reducing energy consumption, increasing efficiency, using cleaner fuels and energy sources, and reducing vehicle miles traveled. However, as the country’s 5^th largest oil producer (recently falling from 3^rd), the state has never done enough to keep polluting fossil fuels from being produced in the first place.

Since September 2016, as part of the Johns Hopkins SAIS International Environmental and Energy Practicum, I have been researching in partnership with Clean Water Action in order to inform the public about a little-known method of oil and gas production: Enhanced Oil Recovery. The culmination of our team’s research is the new report, “The Environmental Risks and Oversight of Enhanced Oil Recovery in the United States.”

California recently became the poster child for problems with oil and gas injection wells.

On March 23, we sent a legal petition to EPA requesting the Agency revoke or amend its rules governing Aquifer Exemptions.

Kern County is the "belly of the beast" for the California's oil and gas industry, where almost 80 percent of the state's oil is produced. It’s where the vast majority of the environmental and health fallout is.

For some reason, California STILL allows oil and gas companies to dump their toxic wastewater in open and unlined pits.

Lately I’ve been thinking about signs I’ve seen scattered around neighborhoods in Bakersfield with the proclamation, “Bakersfield – Life As It Should Be.” They’re kidding, right?

Highlights from some of Clean Water's favorite insights and developments this year in the world of oil and gas, drinking water protection and climate change.

Last week, regulators approved the expanded use of oil wastewater for irrigation of crops in Kern County.