Tonight ‘s City Council Meeting on Oct. 26, 2020 will be discussing the end of oil drilling in Culver City. Action Item 4 at the end of the agenda will bring up the Oil Drilling Subcommittee’s report and recommendation to begin studying a five year phase out period for the removal of “nonconforming oil and gas activities” in the city.
The resolution expected to be passed is the next step after the August 13 authorization of the process. The amortization would consider what steps are needed for a secure suspension of oil and gas related activities, and a schedule for clean up and remediation of the site.
The Inglewood Oil Field is the largest oil drilling site in the state located in a populated urban area. It has seen a consistent decline in productivity over the past 30 years. The Texas-based Plains Exploration and Production sold to the Arizona mining company Freeport McMoRan in 2013. The current operator, Sentinel Peak Resources, is the third company to own the extraction rights in a decade, acquired the rights in 2016.
While Culver City only has legal authority over the part of the oil field in the city, it could be an important beginning towards transitioning the area to the long-looked for ‘great park’ that was planned for the site before it was turned over for drilling. Clean energy options, such as solar and wind, will also be discussed as possibilities for the site.
To virtually attend the meeting, to go CulverCity.org and click on City Hall. To comment on Item A-4, register and follow instructions.
Judith Martin-Straw
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