March 19, 2024 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Lawmakers to Discuss Rancho Park and West Pico Oiling Drilling Sites

City Council committee to discuss both Rancho Park & West Pico drill sites this week

By Chad Winthrop

Los Angeles lawmakers will discuss in a meeting this week two local oiling drilling sites: Rancho Park and West Pico.

On Tuesday, November 17 at 1 p.m. the Los Angeles City Council Energy, Climate Change & Environmental Justice Committee will discuss both the Rancho Park and West Pico drill sites.

In January of 2017, the office of Council District 5, which includes Century City and Westwood, was made aware of the presence of unpermitted equipment located onsite at the Rancho Park Drill Site, including in particular, a CEB 1200 Enclosed Gas Burner, which would have been used to burn excess natural gas produced at the site in the course of oil drilling operations, creating additional air pollution in the area. District 5 Councilmember Koretz introduced a motion on this matter directing the City Departments to do a thorough site review.

The Rancho Park drill site is located at the Rancho Park Golf Course

Additionally, on November 29, 2017, Council District 5 residents surrounding the Rancho Park golf course began complaining of a strong and noxious odor. The source of the odor was a spill of Mercaptan odorant from a pump failure of Southern California Gas Company equipment at the Rancho Park Drill Site.

“Residents were understandably frightened and shaken by the incident and, until then, many were not aware ofthe drill site located within their neighborhood,” reads the Koretz Council motion.

Councilmember Koretz introduced another motion directing City staff to report back on causes and solutions for the spill and City response. Hillcrest Beverly Oil Company agreed to fund and perform a 3rd party inspection of the Rancho Park Drill Site with a deadline of August 17, 2020, to install air monitoring equipment, and to work towards ways to remove the Mercaptan odorant equipment from the site altogether.

The motion going before the committee this week would direct the City’s Petroleum Administrator to work with the Hillcrest Beverly Oil Company to report back within 60 days on the results of the 3rd party inspection of the Rancho Park Drill Site, the status and results of the ongoing air monitoring, and ongoing efforts to remove the Mercaptan equipment.

To submit public comment on this item, visit https://cityclerk.lacity.org/publiccomment/?cfnumber=17-0149-S2.

The West Pico Drill Site item on the agenda is a closed session item due to legal issues at stake and the City Attorney says that they will not report until the item is approved by the committee and is heard in the full Council meeting.

Related Posts

Firearms Found After Police Pursuit Ends in West Los Angeles Neighborhood

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Suspect Arrested Following Unintentional Discharge Incident A vehicle pursuit involving officers from the West Los Angeles Division on March 15,...

GLAAD Announces Recipients for 35th Annual Media Awards at Gala Ceremony in Beverly Hills

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Oprah Winfrey, Niecy Nash-Betts Among Honorees; Ceremony to Stream on Hulu GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and...

Los Angeles Marathon 2024 Concludes: Annual Race Draws International Talent and Record Numbers

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Top finishers from Kenya and Ethiopia lead the race, with U.S. representation among the leaders The 39th Annual Los Angeles...

FBI Seeks Victims of Alleged Online Exploitation Scheme Allegedly Run by Resident of Santa Monica

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

Individuals Urged to Come Forward in Investigation of John Douglas Burch The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office is urging individuals to...

Venice Family Clinic Announces Inaugural HEART Gala to Celebrate Health and Art

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Event Honors Creative Community and Supporters of Vital Health Care Services Venice Family Clinic, a non-profit community health center dedicated...

(Video) Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD Responds to News of Nex Benedict’s Cause of Death

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, responds to the release of the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Ruling on Nex...

“Love Lies Bleeding” is Ripped: Actress Katy O’Brian Talks Love, Sex, and Vulnerability

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Katy O’Brian is a Breakout Star Who Shines in Loving and Hilariously Violent Crime Film English film director Rose Glass’...

Beverly Hills Police Reveal Cause of Tesla Cybertruck Collision at Beverly Hills Hotel

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

Investigation Unveils Details of Incident Involving Elon Musk’s “Cyberbeast” Vehicle The Beverly Hills Police Department has announced the cause of...

IRS Launches Direct File Pilot of Free Filing Tool for Taxpayers in California, 11 Other States

March 14, 2024

March 14, 2024

Free, Convenient Online Tax Filing Option Now Available for Eligible Individuals The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the official launch...

Purple People Party Cheer Station Moves To Beverly Hills

March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

Hirshberg Foundation Group Ready to Energize Runners On St. Patrick’s Day, participants in the Los Angeles Marathon can expect an...

Countdown to the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon: Road Closures Ahead

March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

Annual Marathon Comes with Saint Patrick’s Day Twist in 2024 Just three days from now, the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon...

A New Civil Lawsuit Against Roman Polanski Has Moved Forward to Trial

March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

Director Faces Allegations From 1973, Santa Monica Judge Sets Date A trial date of August 4, 2025, has been set...

MICHELIN Guide Unveils 10 New Culinary Stars in California, Anticipating 2024 Selections

March 12, 2024

March 12, 2024

9 Los Angeles Area and Beverly Hills Restaurants Featured as New Additions The prestigious MICHELIN Guide has announced the addition...

Theater Review: “Fatherland” – A Riveting Portrayal of the Trial of a January 6 Insurrectionist

March 11, 2024

March 11, 2024

Stephen Sachs’s production of Fatherland,* on stage at The Fountain Theatre, is an outstanding theatrical experience that takes us back...

Caltrans Updates the Closures of I-405 Off-Ramps for Repairs in West Los Angeles

March 11, 2024

March 11, 2024

Additional Closure Announced and Continued Closure Confirmed The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has declared the closure of the southbound...