Update - Neighborhood Oil Drill Site Hearing

  Speaking in support of closing the oil well site operated by Nasco Petroleum at Pico and Broadway at the city hearing on September 28 were South Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA), Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC), and South Park residents including Teresa Y Hillery, CD 14 City Council candidate. LA City Planning also presented on the problems and reasons for closing the oil drill site.

The gates to the Nesco Oil Drill Site at Pico, Broadway, and 14th Place shows how close the site is to the residential building under construction in blue – Eden by Suncoast Ventures with 235 units and the newly opened white residential building in background of photo at Olive just south of Pico, Emerald with 154 units. The photo does not “show” the smell of oil and gas as I walked between the oil site and the new residential building.

The lawyers for Nasco Petroleum asked for an additional 30 days to submit more materials which was granted by the Associate Zoning Administrator. South Park residents now have more time to add more voices as well. We need to fight for our environmental safety.

It is time to write a letter or add your name to the SPNA letter supporting the closure of the oil well site. You can submit your letter with the subject line – Broadway Oil Drill Site at 155 W. 14th Place to Edber Macedo at edber.macedo@lacity.org and cc reeyan.raynes@dlanc.com and debby.zhou@dlanc.com. Or you can add your name to SPNA’s letter below by emailing spnadtla@gmail.com – instructions below.

The gates to the Nesco Oil Drill Site at Pico, Broadway, and 14th Place with the high-rise buildings of Circa, Aven, EVO, Hope + Flower, as well as buildings not seen – Wren, G12, Elleven, Ten50, Luma, Olive DTLA, and more. The oil drill site is near 15,000 residents.

Writing your own letter – reasons for closure of oil well site:

·      Most important, Nasco Petroleum has already paid $1.5 million in fines for nearly 600 violations of state regulations. Problems at the South Park site have been noted since 2016. Concerns in 2020 of “immediate” risks to drinking water aquifers was noted.  In 2006 this site had a major oil spill with hot crude and oily waste filling an apartment building basement and oozing out of manhole covers.

·      Studies from UCLA, Stanford, Harvard, EPA, and more show oil and gas operations have been associated with negative health impacts especially if near housing, schools, and healthcare facilities. This oil well is near 15,000 residents, 2 elementary schools and daycares, and Dignity Health – California Hospital.

·      South Park is growing denser with residents. A residential project at Hill and 14th has 235 units and construction of an 8 story residential development overlooks the oil well site.

·      Oil wells in dense urban areas are inconsistent with the environmental goals of the City of LA and the State of California.

·      Los Angeles has adopted regulations that will phase out oil activities altogether over the next 20 years to improve the livability of the city. We need to act sooner.

The South Park Neighborhood Association letter is below –you can add your name by emailing spnadtla@gmail.com, subject line – Support Closing Neighborhood Oil Well Site, and in the email provide your name, email address, and building where you reside.

Re: Broadway Oil Drill Site at 155 W. 14th Place
To Whom It May Concern,

After the public hearing on September 28, 2023, SPNA wants to add to our previous letters calling for the closing of the Nasco Petroleum Oil Well site at 155 W. 14th Place, 90015.

On September 28, the Nasco lawyers cited that in 1964 the City of Los Angeles and State of California encouraged oil drill sites in the city and area. That is not a reason to continue an oil well site 59 years later that is a hazard not only to the residents of South Park but also to the entire city, state, and world. Times change, attitudes change, research studies acquire more data, and what was true in 1964 is not true in 2023.

That is why oil wells in dense urban areas are inconsistent with the current environmental goals of the State of California as well as the City of Los Angeles. South Park grows denser by the day with residential buildings being planned and built within sight of this well. With new construction at Hill and 14th St. with 235 total units, construction of a seven-story building featuring 154 apartments on Olive, south of Pico, and the former California Employment Development site on South Broadway where a developer has proposed an affordable housing project including a park for residents, the density of residents living around the oil well has increased exponentially. The densification of South Park is a goal of City Planning, and this oil well discourages that kind of development which the SPNA supports.

Methane is a major cause of global warming and climate change. An oil well is incompatible with our state’s goal of switching from oil to electricity to power vehicles. Shut down the oil well – it is long overdue. The site has a record of numerous violations as noted by City Planning Case NO. ZA 16926. SPNA is concerned with safety, health of residents, noise, and environmental hazards. The oil well needs to be shut down now.

The South Park Neighborhood Association is a group of South Park Residents interested in the betterment of South Park and a safer environment.

Sincerely, South Park Neighborhood Association

By Debra Shrout