New legislation may strengthen prohibition against new oil wells

A recent court ruling that invalidated a 2022 Los Angeles law barring new oil wells and gas extraction in the city could be changed following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval of three bills intended to strengthen regulations of such activities.
The package of legislation is intended to give cities more power to restrict oil drilling and help the state address idle wells. According to Newsom’s office, the laws represent a step forward in the state’s ongoing efforts to cut pollution.
“This builds off of our all-of-the-above efforts to protect communities from pollution and hold Big Oil accountable,” Newsom said in a statement.
Newsom signed off on AB 2716 authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (55th District) which prohibits the operation of low-oil production and gas wells located in a field within the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, also known as the Inglewood Oil Field. The law also mandates a $10,000 fine per month on these wells until they are permanently plugged and abandoned.
Fines collected from violators are intended to support the development of parks and other community benefits.
Authored by state Assemblymember Dawn Addis (30th District), AB 3233 gives cities and counties greater authority to impose restrictions on oil and gas operations by limiting or prohibiting oil and gas developments.
“The signing of AB 3233 is a vital win for communities across the Central Coast, and all of California,” Addis said in a statement. “Putting this bill into law affirms our right to clean air and water, free of oil and gas pollution.”
Assemblymember Gregg Hart (37th District), authored AB 1866, which increases fees and strengthens enforcement to ensure oil companies maintain and safely plug idle wells. The aim is to prevent leaks and address contamination caused by more than 40,000 idle oil wells across the state, supporters said.
The passage of AB 3233 could assist Los Angeles in its legal battle against a recent court ruling to overturn its ban on new oil and gas production. Last week, L.A. County Superior Court Judge Curtis Kin ruled against the ban, which also required that all existing oil production be phased out within 20 years.