Environmental Justice Wins at the State Level

We are proud to announce that as of last month, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed three additional polluter bills into California law. These bills–AB 3233, AB1866, and AB2716–ensure that idle oil wells are cleaned up in our communities and protect the rights of jurisdictions to phase out oil drilling. Here’s what you need to know about these groundbreaking bills:

AB 3233 

After previously having to concede to state regulations, AB 3233 allows local jurisdictions the authority to limit/ban oil drilling. The bill is contextualized through California’s commitment to public health and environmental sustainability, as this regulation is necessary to protect air, water, and natural resources. What makes this noteworthy is that it supersedes a 2023 court ruling that found the City of L.A.’s ordinance to phase out oil drilling was illegal. The case–The City of Los Angeles v. California Oil and Gas Association–was struck down by a judge with a ruling stating that the state, not the local jurisdiction, had the authority over drilling operations. Now that Governor Newsom has signed AB3233, this ruling should soon be overturned.

AB1866 

While regulations on idle wells were previously less stringent, AB1866 increases management and regulatory compliance with oil operators. The bill accomplishes this by adding guidelines that wells must submit a management plan that prioritizes testing and plugging idle wells rather than having them continue to run. Furthermore, it pushes the need to increase the number of wells that are plugged annually and how those sites will be properly restored. Failure to comply will lead to increased financial penalties that companies must pay, adding greater incentive to properly shut down idle wells. 

AB2716 

This bill restricts the amount of low-production wells in the Inglewood Oil Field. The oil industry will often leave wells in use—even if they are only producing minimal amounts of product—to avoid the high costs of properly plugging them. Under AB2716, specific guidelines are set for wells considered to be idle will be forced to pay $10,000 per day. This economic deterrent may force oil companies to plug these wells to avoid high ongoing penalty fees. If they choose not to change their practices, the funds gained from the penalties will go directly to the Oil and Gas Environmental Remediation Account. 

The Sierra Club’s involvement in the research and communication strategy was pivotal in these bills being passed. Our report on the state of idle wells in California illuminated the key points of the issue: their ongoing risks versus the rewards of cleaning them up, how oil companies financially benefit from them, and how these industries can take advantage of loose regulations at the expense of the general public. Key data from the report were used by legislators to support their arguments, and by major media outlets to educate the public on the issue.

Sierra Club Activists and Leaders David Haake and Meghan Sahli-Wells talk with Governor Newsom at the historic signing.

This win would not have been possible without the tireless work from our community members, allied organizations, and effort done by the following individuals: Gabriel Facio for his lobbying work in Sacramento, Melissa Rojas for digital strategies, and Sander Kushen on communications.