Gabby Brown, gabby.brown@sierraclub.org
Los Angeles, CA -- Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning released an initial draft update to the safety standards governing the Inglewood Oil Field, the largest urban oil field in the country.
The current standards, which have not been updated since 2014, allow the oil field to operate just 400 feet from homes and schools, putting families in the predominantly African American community of Baldwin Hills at risk of air pollution and negative health effects. Despite calls from local residents to increase this buffer zone to 2,500 feet, the County failed to strengthen this key safeguard.
The decision not to meaningfully strengthen these standards represents a contrast to the County Board of Supervisors’ unanimous vote earlier this month to implement an ambitious new regional sustainability plan for Los Angeles that would phase out fossil fuel development in the county.
Today’s release starts the clock on a 60-day comment period for the public to weigh in on the proposal.
In response, Sierra Club Senior Campaign Representative Monica Embrey released the following statement:
“This proposal is totally out of step with the county’s sustainability goals, and it falls woefully short of what’s needed to adequately protect Los Angeles communities from the dangers of neighborhood oil drilling. For too long, this massive oil field has been allowed to operate just feet from our homes and schools, burdening families with unacceptable air pollution and health risks for the sake of more oil that’s driving the climate crisis. We urge the county to listen to community concerns and update these proposed safeguards to better address the threats Inglewood Oil Field poses to public health and the environment.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.