Overview
- Los Angeles County filed an environmental-justice lawsuit on Dec. 10 against Sentinel Peak Resources California, Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas, Plains Resources and Chevron U.S.A.
- The complaint alleges the companies failed to properly plug more than 200 idle or depleted wells in the Inglewood Oil Field near Baldwin Hills and Ladera Heights.
- The county seeks civil penalties of up to $2,500 per day per well from current operator Sentinel Peak and also accuses the company of unfair business practices.
- County officials report that over 25% of the field is idle for at least 23 consecutive months and say the wells continue to emit toxins, including benzene, affecting more than one million people within five miles.
- Leaders frame the case as an escalation after local drilling phase-out ordinances were overturned in court and warn taxpayers could face cleanup costs if companies do not comply.