In Los Angeles County there are natural reserves of unrefined oil and methane gas underground. Wells bring oil and gas out of the ground to process, store, or transport it. These oil and gas operations can expose nearby communities to health and safety risks.
Problems from oil and gas operations can include:
Air pollution: Oil and gas production create small particles that pollute the air. People may experience eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and dizziness, or breathing problems (asthma). Long-term inhalation of large amounts of these particles can lead to an increased risk of cancer or babies being born early or too small.
Bad smells: People may experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms from rotten-egg smells.
Noise, vibrations, and bright lights: Loud noises, bright lights, and vibrations (shaking) can make it hard to sleep, lead to stress, or lead to heart disease. Vibrations can also damage buildings, roads, or other structures and create safety problems.
Emergencies: Accidents like chemical spills, fires, and explosions are possible and may harm nearby residents.
The CHSNP is a tool recommended by Public Health for operators and developers to use to communicate with fence line and nearby communities. Information in the CHSNP should include but not be limited to an overview of the activities conducted on site, the hazards and potential risks for the community, the mitigations to protect public health and safety, what will happen in case of emergency, and whom to contact with questions or concerns.
Preliminary Environmental Health Assessments:
About AllenCo Energy Inc. oil production facility in South Central Los Angeles.
CalGEM Well Finder : Use this mapping tool to find oil and gas wells in your community.
Local GIS tools:
Visit our Climate Health page
