[Editor’s Note: The County Supervisor’ issued the following statement this afternoon on the sizzling subject of hydraulic fracturing and the Baldwin Hills Oil Field.]
Hydraulic fracking continues to be a subject not only of local, but international, concern.
I, too, am concerned about this issue, and the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of hydraulic fracking, specifically as it relates to the communities that surround the Baldwin Hills Oil Field.
It is important that interested stakeholders are cognizant of what distinguishes hydraulic fracking in the Midwest, the northeast and in California. While most of the controversy has revolved around hydraulic fracking for natural gas, in California the geology only allows for fracking for oil.
In addition, the majority of the states only now are adopting regulations on well integrity that California has relied on for years.
Nonetheless, we don’t have a complete understanding of the potential risks and appropriate regulations.
It is important that the state of California, which has authority over this activity, act nimbly and thoroughly to develop regulations over this practice. In the past few years, I have advocated for a variety of strategies to address this concern.
Study of Environmental Impacts
After residents and community groups sued the oil drilling company PXP and the County of Los Angeles in November 2008 over concerns generated by drilling at the Baldwin Hills Oil Field, we required PXP to conduct a study to assess the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracking at the oil field. Also, the County has hired a independent consultant to peer review the study.
Support for Transparency
In May 2011, at my request, the Board of Supervisors unanimously supported statewide legislation that would require disclosure of the types of chemicals injected underground during oil and gas extraction.
Support for Efforts to Develop Regulations
Given that the state's Dept. of Conservation's Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) is the governmental entity responsible for regulating activities that take place underground, including hydraulic fracking, I have urged Gov. Brown to take a leadership role in developing regulations.
Support for Moratorium
Last week, Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-South Bay) authored statewide legislation to implement a moratorium on hydraulic fracking until the Dept. of Conservation’s regulations are put in place.
I fully support this legislation.
While we may locally be conducting a study to evaluate the environmental, safety and health risks created by hydraulic fracking in the Inglewood Oil Field, there is no guarantee that such a study will be completely exhaustive.
Mr. Ridley-Thomas may be contacted at ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov
