Calif. proposes changes in protecting drinking water from oil wells

California is proposing to shutter up to 140 oil wells that had been allowed to inject into federally protected drinking water aquifers by October, according to state officials.

The Associated Press reports that the October deadline is one piece of a larger plan the state sent the Environmental Protection Agency last week to ensure state regulation of oil and gas operations is in compliance with federal water standards.  

Under a mandatory state review required by the EPA, authorities found more than 2,500 oil and gas injection wells attached to aquifers that were designated as current or future sources of water for drinking and agricultural use.  

Additionally, an analysis by the AP found hundreds of questionable state permits for oil-field injection into federal protected aquifers were approved since 2011.