The drill site is located on Pico Boulevard just west of Doheny Drive. (photo by Edwin Folven)

An oil drilling site in the 9100 block of Pico Boulevard will be permanently closed under an agreement announced on Dec. 20 by Los Angeles City Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, 5th District.

The West Pico Drill Site has been a longstanding source of health and environmental concerns in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood. Under the agreement, the drill site operator Pacific Coast Energy Company and Yaroslavsky will work together on a conditional use permit modification that will end oil extraction at the site. They will also work with stakeholders to identify potential future uses at the site. The agreement came after decades of community advocacy and collaboration. The councilwoman said it will protect public health and the environment.

“This closure agreement is a major victory for the Pico-Robertson community and a turning point in our efforts to phase out harmful oil drilling citywide,” Yaroslavsky said. “For too long, oil drilling sites like this one have jeopardized the health of residents and exposed families to unacceptable health and safety risks. This agreement shows that we can prioritize public health and safety while charting a path toward a healthier, more sustainable future for all Angelenos.”

Pacific Coast Energy Company was credited for its willingness to collaborate on a plan that prioritizes needs of the community. During the closure process, the company will work with the council office and stakeholders to ensure that any future development benefits the community.

“[The] historic announcement starts a process to transition our urban West Pico production site into an alternative beneficial future use, allowing us to provide much needed workforce housing, community spaces and other public benefits to the community in the coming years” Pacific Coast Energy Company CEO Klaus Hasbo said.  “This puts our commitment to meet California’s goal of transitioning away from fossil fuels into a more sustainable energy future into action. Facilities like our West Pico site, situated in dense urban areas, should be the first ones to be transitioned.”

If approved by the city, the modified conditional use permit would require the Pacific Coast Energy Company to close 57 wells at 9101-9151 West Pico Blvd. and remove the existing structures. The company will also be required to conduct environmental remediation so the site can be redeveloped.

Pacific Coast Energy Company has been exploring options for redevelopment of the West Pico Boulevard site, which could include housing, mixed-use development and public amenities such as parks and community space. Oil drilling began at the site in the mid-1960s and Pacific Coast Energy Company has owned it since 1993.

Yaroslavsky cited evidence pointing to negative health impacts associated with urban oil drilling. Studies have shown that residents living near active wells face higher rates of asthma, cancer and other respiratory illnesses, and that pregnant women living near oil wells are 40% more likely to experience preterm labor, she said. The agreement will allow the troublesome site to be transformed into a resource for the neighborhood, Yaroslavsky added.

Michael Lynn, president of the South Robertson Neighborhood Council, said any proposed changes at the site will be considered.

“The South Robertson Neighborhood has not taken a position that directly addresses the announced agreement, but I can say that the South Robertson Neighborhood Council will be watching closely to ensure that its stakeholders are informed and involved throughout the entire process,” Lynn added.

Los Angeles is attempting to phase out oil drilling in residential neighborhoods. The City Council passed legislation in 2022 to ban new oil wells and phase out existing wells. However, a court struck down the legislation citing state law. In September, the state Legislature amended state law, clearing the way for the city to reinstate the ban. Yaroslavsky said the agreement with Pacific Coast Energy Company serves as a model for the closure of oil wells in other parts of the city.