A WELL OF OPPORTUNITY
March 2026
A WELL OF OPPORTUNITY
As oil wells phase out over time, new possibilities for land reuse emerge.
Oil wells have operated in Los Angeles County for generations. The Los Angeles County Oil and Gas Wells Dashboard identifies more than 25,000 wells countywide, about 7,900 of which are active or idle. Many are located near homes, schools, and parks in communities that have long experienced environmental and public health burdens. As production declines in the county’s mature oil fields and policies strengthen protections for community health, the County is working to ensure the transition away from extraction is deliberate, coordinated, and grounded in adopted sustainability goals. Here, we take a look at the County’s efforts to phase out these wells as part of a pledge to make L.A. County fossil-fuel free and carbon neutral by 2045.
What is the County doing to equitably phase out oil wells?
L.A. County has taken various steps in recent years to facilitate the phase-down of urban oil drilling while ensuring the transition is equitable for affected workers and communities. The Board of Supervisors directed the Department of Regional Planning (DRP) to develop an ordinance to guide the phase-down of oil drilling in unincorporated communities. In parallel, the County partnered with the City of Los Angeles and a cross-sector Just Transition Task Force to develop the Just Transition Strategy.
Last May the Board adopted a motion by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell directing County departments to strengthen health and safety protections at oil and gas sites, improve transparency, guide remediation and reuse planning, and advance implementation of the Just Transition Strategy. In response, the Department of Public Health (DPH) developed recommendations to strengthen health protections and public notification. DRP is conducting community workshops to gather input on future land uses and inform policy guidance. The Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) is carrying forward the County’s Just Transition efforts and leading a feasibility study examining how oil well sites in unincorporated areas could potentially be acquired and reused.
In January, the Board adopted a motion by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath affirming the County’s continued commitment to global climate leadership. That direction reinforces that the transition away from urban oil drilling — and the responsible remediation and reuse of former oil sites — is part of a broader effort to align local action with global climate goals.
How does this connect to the OurCounty Sustainability Plan?
The remediation and reuse of oil well sites directly advances goals in the OurCounty Sustainability Plan, particularly Goal 1’s focus on healthy, resilient community environments and Goal 7’s commitment to a fossil fuel–free future. Cleaning up oil extraction sites reduces environmental health risks and cumulative pollution burdens in vulnerable communities, while transitioning these sites toward new community-serving uses can bring lasting benefits to the neighborhoods around them.
Grounding this work in adopted sustainability goals ensures that both cleanup and reuse are part of a broader effort to improve public health, strengthen communities, and advance long-term environmental progress.
What role does the Just Transition Strategy play?
The Los Angeles Just Transition Strategy provides the framework for managing the phase-down of fossil fuel extraction responsibly. The Strategy identifies three long-term priority areas:
- Support for workers impacted by the transition
- Site remediation and reuse
- Finance and coordination
These priorities are helping guide ongoing work by the CSO and other County departments as we plan for the transition away from urban oil drilling.
A just transition recognizes that ending fossil fuel extraction is only part of the work. The process must be health-protective, transparent, and shaped by meaningful input from frontline communities and local Tribal governments. It also requires intentional planning for how land is cleaned up and reused after oil production ends.
What does “remediation and reuse” of oil well sites mean in practical terms?
Remediation refers to the safe closure of wells (a process called “plugging and abandonment”) and the cleanup of environmental conditions associated with oil production. Wells are sealed in accordance with State standards under the oversight of the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), with coordination at the local level through the County’s Office of Oil and Gas.
In addition to well plugging, surface equipment is removed and environmental investigations assess soil, soil vapor, and groundwater conditions across the site. Where contamination is identified, cleanup of the land may be required before it can support future uses. Depending on site conditions and intended reuse, this work may be overseen by agencies such as the Department of Toxic Substances Control or the Regional Water Quality Control Board. In some cases, long-term monitoring or land use restrictions remain in place even after active remediation is complete.
Reuse builds on that foundation. Once a site is made clean and safe, attention turns to potential future land uses. Options may include parks and open space, housing, renewable energy, or other community-serving uses. What is possible depends on practical factors such as site ownership, environmental conditions and regulations, zoning, and funding.
For privately owned sites, decisions regarding future land use ultimately rest with the property owner, subject to applicable laws, regulations, and permitting requirements. For County-owned sites, reuse will be guided by adopted County plans and policies, with specific amenities and design elements shaped through community engagement.
How is the County preparing for site transition?
The County is taking action to proactively manage site transitions, rather than waiting to react to them. Oil well status is dynamic. As production declines in mature fields, additional wells may move from active to idle or abandoned status. Without planning, sites can become long-term liabilities as wells and associated infrastructure can degrade over time and require monitoring, maintenance, or eventual cleanup. With coordination and intention, they can become opportunities for environmental restoration and community reinvestment.
The CSO-led feasibility study examines the practical steps needed to transition oil well sites from production to cleanup and, where feasible, to future reuse. It considers site conditions, regulatory pathways, environmental review requirements, funding approaches, and long-term oversight. The study also looks at potential sites and lessons from similar cleanup and reuse efforts to better understand what has worked and what challenges may arise.
At the same time, the County’s DRP is developing the Revised Oil Well Ordinance to align local regulations with recent State legislation and clarify local authority related to oil and gas operations. While the ordinance governs extraction activities rather than land reuse, its implementation will influence how and when wells transition out of production, thereby shaping the timing of remediation and redevelopment discussions.
How are communities being engaged in shaping future land uses?
Community engagement is central to this work. DRP, in coordination with the CSO, DPH, and other agencies, is hosting workshops in unincorporated communities where oil wells are located to provide information about plugging and abandonment requirements and to explore future land use possibilities. These workshops, along with an online survey, are designed to gather public input and document community priorities that can inform future policy recommendations.
Community engagement is not a one-time effort. It should continue as sites are evaluated, cleaned up, and prepared for future use. As conditions change and new information becomes available, ongoing conversations with residents and community organizations help guide decisions and keep plans grounded in local priorities. Communities that have lived with the impacts of oil drilling should have a meaningful voice in shaping what comes next.
What would a successful transition look like over time?
A successful transition can be understood in both near-term and long-term perspectives. In the near term, it means wells are properly plugged to current standards, environmental conditions are evaluated transparently, and cleanup is conducted under appropriate oversight. Over time, it means former oil sites are restored and transitioned to new uses in ways that advance public health and quality of life, such as parks or affordable housing.
Success will require thoughtful planning, realistic budgeting, and close coordination among agencies and communities. The transformation of an oil well site is typically a multi-year process. From well plugging and environmental investigation to regulatory review, cleanup, and potential redevelopment, each step involves technical requirements and oversight that cannot be rushed.
By aligning Board direction, sustainability goals, interdepartmental coordination, and community input, Los Angeles County is working to ensure that land once used for extraction can become part of a healthier and more sustainable future.