By Nayamin Martinez
SEPTEMBER 03, 2024 10:23 AM
Tens of thousands of oil wells are polluting California’s air and land with minimal accountability from the companies causing this harm. Measures previously passed to protect schools and homes fell victim to the political influence of the oil industry in Sacramento. But now, legislators have an opportunity today to protect the health of Californians from this threat.
These wells release harmful emissions like methane, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, which contribute to climate change, smog, respiratory illnesses, birth defects and premature births. Leaks in oil wells often release cancer-causing chemicals like benzene and toluene which are a direct threat to public health and a source of contamination for soil and water.
The environmental and public health impacts of these oil wells make immediate regulation essential.
Three Assembly bills — AB 1866, AB 2716 and AB 3233, all of which are now on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk and await his signature — would help communities shut down oil wells that, despite being low-producing or idle, continue to pollute their neighborhood. The measures would fine oil companies operating low-producing wells whose value of what is being extracted pales in comparison to the damage they cause, and they would protect the local government’s authority to limit where oil wells are allowed to operate.
Together, these measures create a clear and sound approach for dealing with the challenges presented by the oil industry by making it financially responsible for shutting down idle wells by punishing the greed of those who continue to operate low-producing wells while adding significant health risks and by safeguarding the right of a community to restrict oil operations near its schools.
AB 1866, authored by Asm. Gregg Hart, D-Santa Barbara, would force oil companies to plug up idle oil or gas wells to the tune of an average of $68,000 per well. Over 40,000 wells in California are classified as either idle or orphaned. It is only fair that the companies who enjoy the profits also pay to properly plug their wells.
AB 2716, authored by Asm. Isaac Bryan, D-Culver City, would fine oil companies operating in the Inglewood Oil Field $10,000 a month for operating low-producing wells near communities. Some produce barely 15 barrels a day or less compared to thousands of barrels produced from regular wells that contribute to national consumption. There is simply no economic justification for their existence, and they cause much more harm than good.
Finally, AB 3233, authored by Asm. Dawn Addis, D-San Luis Obispo, would protect local governments’ authority to restrict oil and gas production in their jurisdictions. The measure is in line with a recent court ruling that localities can exercise vigilance in the face of the threat to the health of their residents.
It is extremely important that the govenor sign these bills into law, especially at a time when Newsom is taking punitive action against Sen. Lena Gonzales’ 2022 Senate Bill 1137 which prohibited drilling within 3,200 feet of occupied buildings and imposed new requirements on wells already within that perimeter. The governor first tried to delay the timeline for compliance by several years. Then, upset by criticism of his decisions, he said he wouldn’t even fund it this year.
This delay is unacceptable. Nearly one million Californians are estimated to reside near active or retired oil wells, and about nine million people — roughly 20% of the population — live near abandoned or plugged wells.
The share of Latino residents near active wells is between 4% and 13% higher than their statewide percent. Latino children are twice as likely to die from asthma and face higher risk of Type 2 diabetes due to overexposure to polluted air. These Californians suffer higher rates of respiratory illness, prenatal defects and cancer.
Passing these bills would be an opportunity for our state to undo decades of environmental racism that resulted in oil facilities built near low-income communities of color.
Newsom can take an important step toward improving the quality of life by forcing the oil industry to be responsible for plugging, cleaning up and removing unnecessary oil wells. It will also be an important sign that our elected leaders’ priority is the communities that elect and represent them in the face of powerful oil interests.
Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article291690795.html#storylink=cpy
