LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion Wednesday aimed at closing a oil drilling site located in the West Pico area, and it may to look to terminate other pipeline franchise agreements in the city.
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Council members voted 12-0 to move forward with the termination of the West Pico Drill Site's franchise agreement as soon as possible, begin an investigation of any outstanding code violations at the site and conduct a citywide review of other pipeline franchise agreements to identify all pipelines operating on an interim basis as of January 2024.
"I brought this motion forward because the City Council's job isn't done when it comes to protecting our neighborhoods, schools and places of worship from the dangers of oil extraction," Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky said prior to the vote.
She added, "We should be using every tool we have available to shut down oil wells in L.A. as quickly as possible -- both to protect public health and safety in our neighborhoods, but also as part of our larger climate action."
The councilwoman represents the Fifth District, encompassing parts of West L.A., including the location of the West Pico Drill Site in the 9100 block of West Pico Boulevard just west of Doheny Drive.
Yaroslavsky noted the motion would begin the process of effectively ending fossil fuel extraction at the West Pico Drill Site by asking the Office of Petroleum Administration to terminate the pipeline franchise agreement.
While the agreement is already expired, she said, it has been continuing on an interim basis.
"We should put it to bed once and for all," Yaroslavsky said.
According to her office, the West Pico Drill Site has long been a community concern due to odors, noise, air pollution and other environmental hazards, along with several code violations. Its "problematic" operating history most recently prompted the City Council to adopt a motion in 2021 for a complete review of the site, she said.
Additionally, neighbors and activists have raised concerns about the pipeline at the site as it has a "history of code violations," including an oil spill in late 2021.
The councilwoman emphasized the last clause of the motion will have broader implications, as she requested a report of all citywide expired pipeline franchise agreement that could also be terminated should council members decide to do so.
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