Gov. Gavin Newsom announced new state efforts Thursday to protect Californians from oil drilling — proposing a regulation that would ban new oil wells from areas within 3,200 feet of schools, homes, hospitals and other "sensitive" community locations.
The proposal, done in conjunction with the Department of Conservation’s Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) would also require existing wells and facilities to retrofit and require pollution controls in the same areas, in order to minimize the harmful effects of existing pollution.
"This is one commitment of many that the state is making to lead this nation and, I would argue, lead the world, on this transition," Newsom said. "We don't see oil in our future, we don't."
While the new rule would not require closures, California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot said he thinks the proposal would still have a significant impact.
"No new wells will mean that, over years, thousands of wells that would be approved aren't approved," Crowfoot said on a call with reporters, adding that Newsom's administration believes that some operators will choose to decommission wells rather than pay to retrofit them.
CalGEM will now accept public comment on the draft rule for 60 days, Newsom’s administration said in a statement.
Once complete, the department will begin an economic analysis of the rule, submit it to the Office of Administrative Law and begin the process of receiving more comments as needed.
To read the full details of the proposed rule, visit the Public Health Rulemaking webpage. Public comments can be submitted via email to CalGEMRegulations@conservation.ca.gov or by mailing comments to 801 K Street, Sacramento, California (ATTN: Public Health Regulations) by Dec. 21, 2021.
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