Oil industry representatives say they did nothing wrong after being accused by the Environmental Protection Agency of polluting drinking water by injecting production waste into federally protected aquifers in Kern County and throughout California.

Tupper Hull with the Western States Petroleum Association says well operators were simply following orders from the state.

“There’s no evidence that none of this has harmed drinking water supplies in Kern County or anywhere else,” Hull said.

Hull said the industry is a spectator in an argument between the state, which permitted the waste disposal method, and the EPA. The EPA and the state were unavailable for comment Friday.

– Anthony Pollreisz