Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a state law in 2024 that allows cities to ban oil wells, allowing Los Angeles to bring back a 2022 law that was previously overturned.
In 2022, L.A. passed a local law to ban permits for new oil wells and to phase out existing ones, in response to health concerns for people living too close to drill sites.
The drillers went to court, and a judge overturned the ordinance. However, with the help of Assembly Bill 3233, the judge’s decision could be overridden.
“It [the state law] clarified that cities and counties have the authority to restrict or prohibit oil and gas operations in their own jurisdictions, which we didn't have before,” said Councilmember Katy Young Yaroslavsky.
Yaroslavsky told KNX News’ Craig Fiegener that L.A. is moving forward as a result of the state law.
She said there are thousands of drilling sites in L.A., mostly in Wilmington, and restoring the local law puts the city on track to phase out all oil drilling within the city limits over the next 20 years.
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