L.A. Residents Get Drilled

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted yesterday-- much to the chagrin of local residents-- to regulate new urban drill sites in the Inglewood Oil Field in southwest Los Angeles. As many as 600 sites, operated by Houston-based PXP Energy, are planned over the next 30 years, with 24 sites slated for this year alone.

PXP claims that its $2 million environmental review demonstrates conclusively that the wells will not have an adverse impact on local residents. Local residents beg to differ. The Supes claim that their hands are tied-- if they didn't vote to "regulate" the wells, PXP could legally go to the state and get a permit to start drilling anyway.

Last year, the County got almost $7.5 million in tax revenue from the Inglewood Field. PXP estimates that tax revenue will grow by 20% to $9.3 million this year.

L.A. County moves to regulate drilling in oil field straddling La Cienega Boulevard [Los Angeles Times]