To all community members interested in the PXP oil field activities and your own welfare:
Your action via email and/or telephone calls is required in order to get the County Supervisors to act on what they’ve already agreed to do. We must have active participation to get this done.
As you recall, on Aug. 4, 2009, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas got a motion unanimously passed by the County Supervisors to amend the Community Standard District (CSD). This was a great move forward to provide monitoring and control of the PXP activities in the Baldwin Hills Oil Field. At the time, the Supervisor said:
“While the regulations in the CSD may be a start in dealing with the impacts from oil field operations, in light of the continuing concerns raised by the community, a zoning ordinance that regulates the long-term use of oil extraction on this land should ensure that the County prioritizes protecting the health, safety and well-being of the community.”
Unfortunately nothing has transpired since then.
In his motion, the Supervisor suggested that the following CSD amendments be considered:
•Revising the number of new wells allowed per year and overall (currently, 53 new wells per year and 600 new wells over the next 20 years, plus the right to ask for more wells by filing a CUP application);
•Imposing controls regarding the abandonment of wells per year and overall (currently, no requirement to abandon any existing wells);
•Consider establishing an end date for drilling (currently no end date);
•The possibility of undergrounding electrical service;
•The possibility of undergrounding all piping;
•Providing for additional visual screening or drilling and pumping activities (currently, no landscaping requirements along the Culver City borders, and no deadline for planting the landscaping);
•Providing for immediate restoration of vegetation and topography; and
•Ensuring the adequacy of the required health studies.
There may be other concerns that neighbors believe should be addressed, for example, fracking and the insurance and bonding coverage by PXP. The County CEO has accepted casualty insurance in the amount of $1 million and a $5 million performance bond for cleanup of the entire oil field.
Above that, they are “self-insured.” We can’t rely on the assets of the company if there is an environmental or pollution disaster.
Please address your emails to MarkRidley-Thomas@bos.lacounty.gov
Phone calls are also a fine option: 213.974.2222.
His staff should also be copied on all emails: KKatona@bos.lacounty.gov, drosenfeld@bos.lacounty.gov, rfajardo@bos.lacounty.gov
Also, please send me a copy so I can keep track of them.
Thank you very much for your active participation in this very important issue.
Mike Bauer,
President,
Culver Crest Neighborhood Assn.
Mr. Bauer may be contacted at culvercity99@aol.com
