Project Overview
This project is an ordinance amending the Los Angeles County Code and an amendment to the County of Los Angeles General Plan.
This ordinance and general plan amendment establish a regulatory framework to phase out oil production activities in unincorporated Los Angeles County. Specifically, the project includes amendments to the Los Angeles County Planning & Zoning Code (Title 22) including the Baldwin Hills Community Standards District (CSD), the County Environmental Protection Code (Title 12), and the County of Los Angeles General Plan. These updates will align County land use policies with regional sustainability and environmental justice goals, while ensuring the safe and orderly phase out of oil production activities.
1. Title 22 (Planning & Zoning) Oil Well Ordinance:
Under the proposed ordinance, no new oil wells or production facilities may be established in any zone. Pursuant to Section 22.172 of the County Code (Nonconforming Uses, Buildings, and Structures), existing, legally established oil wells or production facilities operating without an approved Conditional Use Permit or other discretionary permit will be considered nonconforming and subject to a 20-year amortization period. In addition, the ordinance establishes performance standards addressing signage, comment and complaint logging, site maintenance, bonding, well plugging, and site abandonment and restoration. This ordinance would apply to all oil wells in unincorporated Los Angeles County, except in the Coastal Zone.
2. Baldwin Hills Community Standards District (CSD) Amendment:
The project amends the Baldwin Hills CSD to align with and fully implement the provisions of the Title 22 Oil Well Ordinance described above, ensuring consistent application of the new regulations and standards within the Baldwin Hills CSD area.
3. Removal of Title 12 (Environmental Protection) Exemption for Oil & Gas Wells:
The project eliminates the current exemption of oil and gas wells from the Noise Control regulations set forth in Title 12 of the County Code. Consequently, these wells will be subject to all provisions of the Noise Control chapter, ensuring better management of noise impacts related to oil and gas extraction activities.
4. General Plan Amendment:
The project amends the General Plan. Specifically, it revises the Land Use Element, Conservation and Natural Resources Element, and Safety Element to prohibit new oil well operations and remove designations that support oil production activities.
SCOPING MEETING
The County will conduct a virtual public scoping meeting for the purpose of soliciting oral and written comments from interested parties as to the appropriate scope and content of the Environmental Impact Report.
All interested parties are invited to attend the meeting to assist in identifying issues to be addressed in the EIR. The meeting will include a brief presentation of the project to be addressed in the EIR and will provide attendees with an opportunity to provide input to the scope of the EIR. The meeting will be held online.
Thursday, April, 17, 2025
6:00 PM–7:00 PM (Pacific Time)—Via Zoom Meeting
https://planning-lacounty-gov.zoom.us/j/82144725503
Meeting ID: 821 4472 5503
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The meeting will include language access service in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Translation in other languages can be made available at the meeting upon request. Please submit translation requests at least seven business days in advance of each scheduled meeting to ordinance@planning.lacounty.gov.
CEQA DOCUMENTS
- Initial Study
- Notice of Preparation
- Notice of Preparation: State Clearinghouse Posting
- Notice of Preparation: Notice of Completion
- LA County Registrar-Recorder County Clerk CEQA Notice Search: Notice of Preparation, Filing Number 2025062483
