Toxic Threat: L.A. County Fights Oil Giants Over Unplugged Wells
Los Angeles County is taking a stand against four major oil and gas companies, suing them for allegedly neglecting hundreds of idle oil wells in the Inglewood Oil Field. These unplugged wells, located near over a million residents, are accused of leaking harmful pollutants into the air, land, and water. The lawsuit filed Wednesday highlights a critical environmental justice issue, aiming to protect communities disproportionately affected by the fossil fuel industry's legacy and ensure operators clean up their own mess, rather than leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. This action underscores the urgent need to address lingering environmental hazards from past drilling.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, targets Sentinel Peak Resources California, Freeport-McMoran Oil & Gas, Plains Resources, and Chevron U.S.A. The county claims these companies have failed to properly close at least 227 idle and exhausted wells, which continue to pose serious risks. Idle wells, defined as those not producing for 24 months, and exhausted wells, yielding very little oil, are common across California but are particularly dangerous in densely populated areas like Inglewood.
These neglected wells are not just eyesores; they actively harm the environment and public health. They can release hazardous air pollutants like benzene, a known carcinogen, and methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that significantly contributes to global warming. Beyond air pollution, unplugged wells can contaminate groundwater with oil, heavy metals, arsenic, and chloride, threatening drinking water supplies. For generations, residents living near these sites have reported health issues, from respiratory problems to cardiovascular concerns, with low-income communities and communities of color often bearing the brunt of these impacts.
County Supervisor Holly Mitchell stressed that cleaning up these wells, which have historically caused environmental injustice, is not just the right thing to do, but it's the law. Plugging a well involves carefully removing surface equipment, pumping cement deep underground, and restoring the land—a process that can cost close to a million dollars per well in L.A. County due to urban complexities. The lawsuit seeks not only to force the companies to act but also to impose daily civil penalties, ensuring they address the harm rather than leaving cleanup costs to taxpayers.
This legal battle is part of L.A. County’s broader commitment to move away from fossil fuels and achieve a sustainable future. While past efforts, like an ordinance to ban new drilling and phase out existing wells, have faced challenges, the county remains determined to hold polluters accountable and protect its residents and environment from the ongoing impacts of oil and gas operations.