An oil company says its $67,000 settlement with the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board over the spilling of fracking chemicals into unlined sumps near McKittrick has been denied because of mounting public pressure.

Breitburn Operating executive vice president Gregory Brown says a hearing has been set for June.

“The rejection letter was pretty straightforward in that regard,” he said, “It indicated that, due to the increase in public awareness, that they want to discuss this.”

Brown says his company isn’t certain if the spills took place in 2013.

The board couldn’t be reached for comment by press time on Friday.

– Anthony Pollreisz