For decades, the West Pico Drill Site in Los Angeles, with an oil derrick disguised as a tower, has been tucked behind a fence pumping oil next to homes, businesses and a preschool. The site has long been plagued by fumes, noise, air pollution and other impacts on the surrounding community.
That could be about to change after the Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted on Wednesday, Dec. 13 to approve a motion seeking to close the controversial oil drilling field in the West Pico area that has been operating there for decades.
Council members voted 12-0 to approve a motion that aims to terminate the West Pico Drill Site’s franchise agreement, launch an investigation of outstanding code violations at the site and conduct a review of other pipeline franchise agreements in the city to understand the condition of all pipelines that are operating on an interim basis as of January 2024.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who represents the 5th District and the communities in West Los Angeles surrounding the West Pico Drill Site, said, “I brought this motion forward because the City Council’s job isn’t done when it comes to protecting our neighborhoods, schools and places of worship from the dangers of oil extraction.”
“We should be using every tool we have available to shut down oil wells in L.A. as quickly as possible — both to protect public health and safety in our neighborhoods, but also as part of our larger climate action,” Yaroslavsky said. She said her motion would allow city officials to launch the process to end fossil fuel extraction at the controversial site, by asking the city’s Office of Petroleum Administration to terminate the pipeline franchise agreement.
The West Pico Drill Site at 9101 W Pico Blvd. sits just 100 feet from residential homes and businesses. It began producing oil in the 1960s. Operated by Pacific Coast Energy Co., the site has nearly 40 active wells.
Residents have been complaining for years…
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