Los Angeles Council Advances Plan to Phase Out Oil Drilling

The Los Angeles City Council has taken a significant step against urban oil drilling, unanimously voting to initiate a plan to eliminate oil wells throughout the city. Despite the anticipation of legal battles from the oil industry, the council moved forward with a 14-0 vote aiming to draft an ordinance that would ban new oil and gas drilling and designate existing operations as nonconforming uses.

Councilwoman Katie Yaroslavsky, who spearheaded this initiative, mentioned that a change in state law allows Los Angeles to impose a complete ban on oil drilling. “It’s evident that cities have the power to regulate and even prohibit oil and gas activities within their areas,” she expressed to her fellow council members prior to the vote.

Highlighting both legal and public health aspects, Yaroslavsky pointed to the significant number of residents residing in proximity to active drilling sites, saying, “More than 500,000 Angelenos live within a quarter-mile of an oil well, and we are already paying the price.” She noted the health implications, including increased asthma cases among children, more elderly residents reliant on oxygen, and premature births in pregnant women living near oil operations.

She also criticized the oil industry for prioritizing fear over transparency regarding health impacts. “Oil companies are quick to warn about gas prices instead of addressing how their activities are harming communities,” Yaroslavsky noted.

This initiative comes at a time of ongoing concerns about gas prices in California. Industry representatives have cautioned that limiting local oil production might heighten dependence on imported crude oil. According to city officials, there are over 2,000 active oil wells in Los Angeles, many situated close to homes, schools, parks, and places of worship.

The recent decision doesn’t instantly shut down these wells. Rather, it initiates the development of an ordinance to prohibit new drilling and set a timetable for phasing out existing operations. This marks yet another effort from the city to tackle urban oil drilling, following a similar ordinance adopted in 2022 that also intended to phase out oil extraction citywide.

Notably, major oil companies like Warren Resources and E&B Natural Resources Management Corp. challenged that earlier measure in court, arguing the city hadn’t adequately considered the ban’s effects. This led to a ruling from a Los Angeles Superior Court judge who blocked the ordinance from implementation.

In response to such challenges, the state legislature has passed a bill granting local governments extended authority over oil and gas activities. Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024, this legislation provides cities and counties with more power to regulate oil and gas operations.

According to Yaroslavsky, this recent bill gives Los Angeles a fresh opportunity to revisit its oil drilling ban. “Los Angeles is now making decisions in line with our urban oil drilling requirements,” she asserted, emphasizing the substantial impact that inadequate petroleum regulations have on local communities.

She acknowledged the possible legal hurdles ahead but affirmed her commitment to utilizing various strategies aimed at the ultimate goal of eradicating urban oil drilling. The City Council also endorsed the findings from an environmental study related to this proposal and directed the City Attorney to prepare the ordinance for future discussions.

This proposed ordinance would prohibit new drilling across Los Angeles and classify any ongoing drilling activities as nonconforming across all zones, per city planning documents.

It is worth noting that one council member, Tracy Park, was absent during the vote. The ordinance is anticipated to be reintroduced for a final approval later this summer.