Governor Newsom Signs Three Bills to Regulate Oil and Gas Drilling in California

Governor Gavin Newsom signed three bills on Wednesday aimed at regulating the locations and operations of gas and oil drilling sites throughout California.  

He stated that these measures will empower local governments to limit drilling activities near schools and residential areas. 

One of the new laws, AB 3233, grants local governments the authority to control how and where oil and gas operations can occur, enabling them to override decisions made by the State Oil and Gas Supervisor, who currently has the final authority.  

This year, environmental groups vigorously advocated for the new law, which could impact numerous communities implementing local oil drilling restrictions over the past decade. These communities include Antioch and Brentwood in Contra Costa County, Santa Cruz County, and the city of Los Angeles. 

Another bill, AB 1866, imposes stricter regulations on idle wells, which can leak and contaminate surrounding areas when no longer in use. California is home to nearly 40,000 idle oil and gas wells, of which approximately 5,300 are classified as "orphan wells."  

These orphan wells have been abandoned by their original drillers, who have either gone out of business or declared bankruptcy, leaving taxpayers responsible for cleanup costs that can run into the millions. 

The third piece of legislation, AB 2716, establishes new rules for an oil field in the Los Angeles area, noted as California's largest urban oil field and previously scrutinized by health officials for its pollution impact on nearby communities. 

Environmental activists lauded the new laws signed by Newsom.