"California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced this week that state oil and gas regulators have permanently closed one of the most infamous drill sites in Los Angeles, bringing an end to a decades-long community campaign to prevent dangerous gas leaks and spills from rundown extraction equipment. A state contractor plugged all 21 oil wells at the AllenCo Energy drill site in University Park, preventing the release of noxious gases and chemical vapors into the densely populated South Los Angeles neighborhood."
"The two-acre site, owned by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, is located across the street from several multifamily apartment buildings and less than 1,000 feet from St. Vincent School. For years, residents and students had repeatedly complained about acrid odors from the site, with many suffering chronic headaches and nosebleeds. The health concerns prompted a community-driven campaign to shut down the site, with some residents even pleading (unsuccessfully) with the late Pope Francis to intervene."
""I applaud the tireless work of community activists who partnered with local and state agencies to finish the job and improve the health and safety of this community. This is a win for all Californians.""
State regulators permanently closed the AllenCo Energy drill site in University Park and a state contractor plugged all 21 wells to prevent release of noxious gases and chemical vapors. The two-acre site sits across from multifamily apartment buildings and less than 1,000 feet from St. Vincent School. Residents and students reported acrid odors, chronic headaches, and nosebleeds, prompting a long-running community campaign. AllenCo, the operator since 2009, repeatedly violated environmental regulations and defied state orders. CalGEM finished capping the remaining wells this month with Biden-era federal funding. The land was donated to the Archdiocese in the 1950s and leased to oil companies.
Read at Los Angeles Times
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]