Third in a series

Re “How Sentinel Pullout Was Good News”

After declaring that the end game at the Inglewood Oil Field is not to be extracting any so-called black gold from the ground, Vice Mayor Thomas Small shifted to a thornier calculation:

Explaining how last month’s withdrawal by Sentinel Peak Resources from an oil field rules debate with the City Council is advantageous to City Hall.

“Their withdrawal creates clarity,” said Mr. Small. “If we were to continue to negotiate with them, there would be a lot of criticism from people who are against the oil company.

“The fact Sentinel withdrew meant there was no chance of continuing negotiations.

“Our next course of action is clear,” said the vice mayor. “We need to complete the city’s environmental impact report and the draft regulations and publish them.”

Mr. Small was asked if  Sentinel’s unanticipated pullout accelerated publication of new guidelines or affected them at all?

“A good question with a complex answer,” he said.

“It certainly accelerates publishing a draft of the new rules. Whether the rules will stand, that is a separate question.

“(Sentinel) will comment on the proposed rules, and object to them. They may object all the way to court,” the vice mayor said. “And that will slow everything down.”

Mr. Small’s advice: Use a calendar instead of a clock.

(To be continued)