On this week’s fifth anniversary of the release of noxious fumes from the Baldwin Hills Oil Field that led dozens of residents to evacuate their homes in the middle of the night, community members will convene on Wednesday morning at the Ladera Soccer Field to ask the County Board of Supervisors to strengthen environmental regulations on the oil field.
They will hold a press conference at 10 o’clock at 5401 Fairfax Ave., overlooking the oil field, between Stocker Road and Slauson Avenue, just north of the baseball fields.
Spokespersons for the Greater Baldwin Hills Alliance and for Community Health Councils maintain that stronger regulations are needed to protect the health and safety of the 300,000 residents within three miles of the field.
A year and a half ago, in August 2009, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by member Mark Ridley-Thomas to initiate a study to modify the existing regulations.
However, in the last 17 months, no study has been issued, the required public hearings have not been held, and drilling has resumed.
Community members and families who live and work near the oil field will recount their experiences with noise, odor, vibrations, health, safety and the visual impact of the oil field.
They will delineate where the current regulations fall short, and they will ask the Supervisors to initiate the study to amend the Baldwin Hills Community Standards District ordinance as promised in the motion.
The Sponsors
Community Health Councils is a non-profit, community-based health promotion, advocacy and policy organization. Established in 1992, The Councils’ mission is to improve health and increase access to quality healthcare for uninsured, economically-disadvantaged, and underserved populations.
The Greater Baldwin Hills Alliance is a collaborative effort of community organizations, neighborhood associations and block clubs representing 50,000 households.
Ms. Taylor may be contacted at Janice@chc-inc.org
