33 more oil field wells shut down

California is shutting down 33 more oil field wells that state officials improperly permitted to inject waste into federally protected water supplies.

The shutdowns were effective Thursday, and primarily affect oil field injection wells in Central California’s Kern County. It’s the latest development following revelations that California gave oil companies permits to dump oil field waste and production fluid into water aquifers that were supposed to be off-limits. The aquifers hold water clean enough to be current or potential sources of drinking water.

California shut down 23 other oil field injection wells earlier in the year, and has promised a statewide review. Federal environmental officials have ordered California to bring its oil field regulation back into compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.