Supervisor Ridley-Thomas to Hold Town Hall Meeting to Hear From Residents About County Ordinance Regulating Oil Drilling in Baldwin Hills
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas will host a community meeting to hear environmental concerns raised by residents about the adequacy of a County ordinance to regulate oil and gas production in the Baldwin Hills area.
WHEN:
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 (6 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
LOCATION:
West L.A. College Fine Arts Theatre, 9000 Overland Ave., Culver City CA 90230
On October 28, 2008, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Baldwin Hills Community Standards District (CSD), an ordinance which established new development standards and operating procedures for oil and gas production in the area.
Since its adoption, many stakeholders have raised concerns about a number of issues, including oil drilling as it relates to aesthetics, the intensity of drilling, health impacts, and the safety and welfare of the surrounding community. Concerns have also been raised in four pending lawsuits which challenge the approval of the CSD and its related environmental impact report.
"There is no excuse for the shabby appearance of this operation -- with exposed piping, electric wires strung here, there and everywhere, and the wholesale trashing of the scenic hills,” Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. “All this in the middle of a long-standing residential and commercial community. We want it maintained consistent with best practices for oil fields anywhere in the United States. “
Issues still remain regarding the ability of the ordinance to adequately address the surrounding community’s concerns related to sights, sounds, smells and safety. On August 4, area residents of Baldwin Hills and nearby communities showed up in hundreds to support a motion by Supervisor Ridley-Thomas to consider modifications and enhancements the CSD.
One-by-one, activists, residents and litigants from the Culver City, Windsor Hills, Blair Hills, Ladera Heights, View Park and Baldwin Vista areas, testified that the CSD was not sufficiently vetted by the community.
The Board unanimously approved Supervisor Ridley-Thomas’ request to direct the Acting Director of the Dept. of Regional Planning to initiate a study to consider recommendations regarding possible amendments or modifications to the existing CSD for Board consideration.
