The California Department of Conservation and State Water Resources Control Board are considering proposals to expand the current aquifer exemption designation for two Kern County oil fields.

If approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the proposed aquifer exemptions would allow the state to approve Class II injection into the areas for oil recovery or for disposal of fluids associated with oil and gas production.

The two oil fields are in the Santa Margarita formation in the Fruitvale Oil Field and the Transition Zone in the Tejon Oil Field.

A public hearing about the Tejon proposal was held Monday evening.