Posted: August 26th, 2008

Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP), the operator of the Baldwin Hills Oil Field, recently distributed a flyer complaining that its plans were being misrepresented at public meetings and in the media, and saying it had received requests “to clarify the record.” PXP then went on to list six “myths” about the oil field, followed by PXP’s version of the “facts.” Unfortunately, PXP’s “facts” are not completely accurate.

“The Inglewood Oil Field has been safe and productive for 85 years.”

PXP apparently does not want anyone to remember the 1963 failure of the Baldwin
Hills reservoir, which took five lives and destroyed 277 homes, or the fact that this
disaster resulted from subsidence caused by exploitation of the Inglewood Oil Field.
While PXP says that oil operations are now being conducted in a manner that
avoids further subsidence problems, this is an issue that calls for careful study, not
false claims of safe historical operations.

“Myth” #1 — PXP is proposing 1,000 new wells.

PXP says it has not filed permit applications for 1,000 new wells, and that the most
likely scenario is they will drill “only” 15-20 new wells a year. In 2006, PXP drilled
49 new wells, subjecting neighbors to the risks associated with drilling 320 out 365
days that year alone.
But the CSD (Community Standards District) drafted by PXP would allow PXP to
change its mind and drill all of the 1,065 new wells discussed in the EIR
(Environmental Impact Report). This could be done with only administrative
approvals and with no further environmental review. If PXP is being truthful about
its plans, it should propose changes to the CSD so that no more than 15 new wells
could be drilled in any year. Until it does this, Myth #1 is not a myth.

“Myth” #2 — The public needs more time to review the EIR.

PXP talks about the 60 days and “nearly two dozen” meetings that were provided
for public review, including two Regional Planning Commission meetings that were
“added” to the process.
But 53 of the 60 days and all but one of the meetings took place before a proposed
County draft of the CSD was released. Anyone who wanted to comment on the EIR
in light of the County’s proposed CSD had less than 24 hours to review the
documents before the August 14 Planning Commission meeting.
And PXP made a conscious decision to filibuster the two Planning Commission
meetings that were held on August 2 and 14. Half of the speakers at both meetings
were PXP employees or affiliates who were enticed to attend by free meals that
PXP served before the meetings, and who, in almost every case, ignored specific
directives from the Commission that they speak only about the EIR or the CSD.
This technique was so effective that at the August 2 meeting, less than 12 of the
nearly 400 community residents who attended were allowed to speak.

“Myth” #3 — The CSD was prepared by PXP.

PXP says it only “helped” write the “initial” draft of the CSD.
PXP wrote, entirely on its own, an initial draft CSD and submitted this document
comments and submitted a revised draft. This slightly revised version of the CSD,
which was almost entirely the work of PXP, is the only CSD mentioned in, or
studied by, the EIR.

“Myth”#4 — New drilling will create unacceptable health and safety risks.

PXP asserts that “having the CSD in place is the safest way to resume drilling.” this
is not a self-evident statement: It is the critical question that must be carefully
studied.
As PXP acknowledges, the key issue is whether the CSD will fully mitigate all
potential health and safety risks. At this point, we do not know what the CSD will
say, since the County is still working on a revised draft. When this is finished, it
must be studied in the EIR and circulated for public comment so that we can
accurately determine whether there will be unacceptable risks.

“Myth” #5 — There is no current deal to turn the oil fields into a park.

PXP is correct that most of the oil field can be turned into parkland only if
arrangements are made with existing property owners. But PXP downplays the fact
that State legislation passed in 2001 established the Baldwin Hills Conservancy for
the specific purpose of acquiring and developing land to implement the Baldwin
Hills Park Master Plan. Of the 1,400 plus acres of open space in the Baldwin Hills,
nearly half the land is now owned by public agencies. About 120 of those publicly-
owned acres are within the operating oil field. These parcels will not be accessible
until PXP’s “enhanced” drilling activities have ceased and the surface is restored to
a safe and natural state suitable for future park use.
The County needs to stand behind the Master Plan and intent of the State
legislation to turn significant portions of the oil field into parkland.

“Myth” #6 — PXP will not be allowed to drill if the CSD is not approved.

PXP goes on to assert that it has “significant legal rights” that allow it to resume
“drilling activities.” While this last assertion is not accurate, everyone agrees the
County needs to enact an ordinance covering the oil field. The critical questions are
the extent of activities that will be permitted by the ordinance, the areas that can
continue to be used as an oil field, the degree to which mitigation of adverse
impacts will be required, and the scope of needed environmental and discretionary
review by the County.

To get the facts, visit www.greaterbaldwinhillsalliance.org and www.baldwinhillsoil.org .

To learn more, contact Community Health Councils
3731 Stocker Street, Suite 201 · Los Angeles, CA 90008
Ph: 323.295.9372 · Email: info@chc-inc.org · www.chc-inc.org