Top CA Oil & Gas Regulator Resigns Amid Questions About Aquifer Contamination

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A top California oil and gas regulator has resigned amid questions about oilfield contamination of the state’s water supplies. Mark Nechedom, head of the Department of Conservation during an intensifying review of his agency’s oilfield permitting by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, submitted his resignation Wednesday, and the state confirmed it Friday.

Nechedom gave no reason in his resignation letter but spoke of directing the department during a “difficult time.” Nechedom’s three-year term at the department saw a federal investigation into improper state permitting of oil-industry operations in what were supposed to be off-limits water aquifers.

State officials acknowledged this year that the improperly permitted oilfield operations had contaminated federally protected drinking-water aquifers in Central California. State officials had no immediate comment Friday.

Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Nechedom to lead the department in January 2012, at a time when oil companies were complaining that the state was slowing down permitting of oil-field operations with extended environmental reviews. Brown later boasted publicly that his removal of Nechedom’s predecessors had led to a speeding up of state permits for oilfield drilling.

EDIT

http://www.salon.com/2015/06/05/top_california_oilfield_permitting_regulator_resigns/