A much-debated oil drill site in West Los Angeles will begin the process of shutting down its operations after an agreement was reached between the operator and the city, officials announced on Friday, Dec. 20.
The Pacific Coast Energy Company has agreed to work with City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky’s office on a conditional use permit to bring necessary equipment to plug the site’s oil wells. City officials said the process would be done over three phases and within five years.
The West Pico Drill Site at 9101 W. Pico Boulevard sits just 100 feet from residential homes and businesses. It began producing oil in the 1960s. The site has nearly 40 active wells, with an oil derrick disguised as a tower. The site has been plagued by fumes, noise, air pollution and other impacts on the surrounding community.
During the agreed-upon process, the city and company will gather input from residents on potential future uses for the property, such as housing, parks or other community-focused amenities.
“This closure agreement is a major victory for the Pico-Robertson community and a turning point in our efforts to phase out harmful oil drilling citywide,” Yaroslavsky said in a statement.
“For too long, oil drilling sites like this one have jeopardized the health of residents and exposed families to unacceptable health and safety risks,” Yaroslavsky added. “This agreement shows that we can prioritize public health and safety while charting a path toward a healthier, more sustainable future for all Angelenos.”
The council member’s office credited Pacific Coast Energy Company’s willingness to collaborate on a plan as key to making the progress possible.
A representative for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In December 2023, the City Council approved a motion introduced by Yaroslavsky, who sought the termination of oil extraction at the West Pico Oil Drill site, and other pipeline franchise agreements in the city.
The drill site just west of Doheny Drive has long been a community concern due to odors, noise, air pollution and other environmental hazards, along with several code violations. Its “problematic” operating history — including an oil spill —prompted the City Council to adopt a motion in 2021 for a complete review of the site, according to city records.
Elected officials approved a ban of new oil wells and phase out existing ones in 2022. Changes to state law allowed the city to reinstate its ban after it was challenged in a lawsuit filed in L.A. County Superior Court.
Yaroslavsky’s office said the agreement aligns with the city’s oil well ban and could serve as a model for speeding up the closure of additional sites.
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