The E&B Natural Resources’ drill site in Jefferson Park could be shut down as the city committee is considering revoking its license to operate due to violations and health concerns.
Richard Parks, a resident and the president and founder of the Redeemer Community Partnership, has tried to get the Murphy Drill Site shut down.
The site had 32 oil wells that Parks said have made a lot of community members and residents sick over the years.
“Our family has experienced a miscarriage, and many of our neighbors have experienced miscarriages,” Parks said. “The research shows that if you live around an oil drill site, miscarriages can be many times higher than if you didn't.”
He said the smell and visibility around the community are worse at night, when the site is more active. He also cites UC Irvine and USC professor Jill Johnston’s respiratory studies, which show that living near urban oil drill sites is equivalent to daily secondhand smoke exposure.
The Murphy drill site has had numerous violations, including methane leaks and its air quality permit, after inspections found a portable vapor control system 1,000 feet from an elementary school.
“They know the rules, but they don't follow them,” Parks said. “At this point, they cannot be conditioned into compliance.”
The company points to a report that says the Murphy site is important to supplying petroleum to L.A. and is not a health and safety hazard.
Follow KNX News 1070 AM
