Three environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against DOGGR, asking the court to declare that new interim state rules on wastewater injection wells are illegal.

The suit was filed in Alameda County Superior Court by San Francisco-based Earthjustice, the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity. It contends the interim rules, which allow continued wastewater injection by oil and gas companies until February of 2017, is “in violation of state and federal law.”

Steve Bohlen, Oil/Gas Supervisor for DOGGR, said the agency cannot comment on pending litigation, but stated, “as we’ve said before, the protection of California’s groundwater resources — as well as public health — is paramount, particularly in this time of extreme drought.”

Bohlen said the state and the U.S. EPA are “moving aggressively and quickly” to test all wastewater injection wells that could pose a risk to sources of water used for drinking and agriculture.

“We have shut down 23 wells, and will continue to do so immediately when there is a risk,” Bohlen said. Tests already conducted have found no contamination of potable water linked to oil or gas industry wastewater injection wells.