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Los Angeles County is suing four oil and gas companies for allegedly failing to connect futile oil wells in the large Inglewood oil field near Baldwin Hills.
The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court in the court of Sentinel Peak Resources California, FreePort-McMoran Oil and gas, chevron euth utilities failed to clean up at least 227 idle in the oil sector. The wells “continue to leak toxic pollutants into the air, land, and water and present unacceptable risks to human health, safety, and the environment,” the complaint said.
COREOTIOT aims to force operators to face the risks posed by undeveloped wells. More than a million people live within five miles of Inglewood Oil.
“We are making it clear to these oil companies that Los Angeles County is being held accountable and that we are not going to back down from our commitment to the impacts of oil spills,” said manager Holly Mitchell, in a statement. “Plugging in useless oil and gas – so there are no more toxins in communities that have been on the front lines of environmental injustice for generations – is not just the right thing to do, it’s the law.”
Sentinel is the current Oil operator, while Freeport-McMoran Oil and Gas, Tefa Utilities and Chevron USA were the previous ones. Energy companies often temporarily stop pumping from the well and leave it on standby waiting for market conditions to improve.
In a statement, a representative for Sentinel Peak said the company is aware of these laws and that “the claims are not valid.”
“This appears to be an attempt to produce a public opinion rather than adjudicate a legitimate legal issue,” said General Erin Gleaton in an email. “We are completely confident in our position, supported by the facts and our record of regulatory compliance.”
Chevron said it does not comment on pending legal matters. Others did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Federal regulations define “idle wells” as wells that do not produce oil or natural gas for 24 months, and “depleted wells” as those that yield average daily oil production or less. California has thousands of such springs, according to the California Department of Conservation.
Idle and exhausted wells can continue to emit dangerous air pollutants such as benzene, and methane, a warm greenhouse gas. Fractured wells can also leak oil, benzene, chloride, heavy metals and arsenic into groundwater.
Plugging fed wells involves removing surface valves and pipes, pumping large amounts of cement down the well and returning it to the surrounding soil. The process can be expensive, adgemed about $ 923,200 well in Los Angeles County, according to the California Geologic Energy Management Division, noting that the costs may be taken by taxpayers if they do not take action. This estimate of 2023 from calgem is three times higher than other parts of the state due to the complexities of bambang Wells and to prepare the area in densely populated cities.
The suit seeks a court order requiring the wells to be properly connected, as well as damages for damages caused by their contamination. It calls for civil penalties of up to $2,500 per day for each source that violates the law.
Residents living near long-term oil fields have reported adverse health effects such as respiratory, reproductive and heart problems. In Los Angeles, many of these accidents affect low-income communities and communities of color.
“The purpose of this ability is to force these oil companies to clean up their practices and stop business practices that affect people of color who live near these oil wells,” said Dawyn Harrison in a statement. “My office is committed to achieving environmental justice for the communities affected by these oil wells and to protect taxpayers from getting stuck with a huge cleanup bill.”
The lawsuit is part of La County’s larger effort to extract oil, including a high-profile ordinance that sought to block new oil wells and require even one to stop production within 20 years. Oil companies have successfully challenged it and it is banned by 2024.
Rita Kampalath, Senior Security Officer, said that the County remains “dedicated to peace towards La County of LA FETELL.”
“This ordinance demonstrates the County’s commitment to achieving our sustainability goals by addressing the impacts of the fossil fuel industry on local communities and the environment,” said Kampalath.
