Fired regulator: Brown pushed to waive oil safeguards.

September 4, 2015 at 1:52 a.m. | Updated September 4, 2015 at 2:05 a.m.

by Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday May 27, 2015 file photo, California Gov. Jerry Brown addresses the California State Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Sacramento, Calif. California’s top oil and gas regulators repeatedly warned Gov. Jerry Brown’s senior aides in 2011 that the governor’s orders to override key safeguards in granting oil industry permits would violate state and federal laws protecting the state’s groundwater from contamination, one of the former officials has testified. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday May 27, 2015 file photo, California Gov. Jerry Brown addresses the California State Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Sacramento, Calif. California’s top oil and gas regulators repeatedly warned Gov. Jerry Brown’s senior aides in 2011 that the governor’s orders to override key safeguards in granting oil industry permits would violate state and federal laws protecting the state’s groundwater from contamination, one of the former officials has testified. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The state's fired former top oil regulator says Gov. Jerry Brown's administration pressured him to break federal and state law on oilfield permitting.

Derek Chernow's account is in a recently filed lawsuit filed by a group of Central Valley farmers. The farmers blame the state and oil companies for what they say is oilfield contamination of their water wells.

Chernow alleges Brown fired him and another top oil regulator in 2011 because they refused to waive key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act for oil companies.

Brown aide Evan Westrup calls the allegations baseless. Oil companies in the case deny that they pressured Brown for shortcuts in federal water-safety laws.

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