Fieldnote Mar 20 2023 - 6:18am

AB617 meeting

South LA 

March 9th 2023

Asking community members about stories in south LA (SLA) and any initiatives they are taking

Updates by Martha Dino Arguello: Talks about the area in SLA. Monica’s cleaners to be converted to wet cleaning. Money from a private donor. Took 20 yrs to implement since Martha’s time at SCAQMD

Ruth Andrade: mentioned how citizens did not know the health causes were caused by envt issues

Paul Rodriguez (SCAQMD Air Quality specialist):  Trying to get everyone to turn the camera on to build a community feeling

S.T.A.N.D LA: By Eric Romann (might be useful to reach out to?)

Impacted by oil drilling (SLA and Wilmington)

Coalition org by citizens tired of getting sick

Common health symptoms; cancer, nose bleeding, headaches

Ordinance went into effect couple of months ago that no new oil wells can be drilled

800 oil wells to be shut in SLA

But 20 years given to oil wells to shut down; too long

Gonna advocated for 2-5 years time to closure

Explains neighborhood drilling; oil wells dangerously close to residents 

Jenna Torres and Edber (LA city planning): oil ordinances

Adopted dec 2, 2022; effective Jan 18, 2023

Key provisions: 

Ordinance implementation: Zoning admin’s interpretation & Zoning administrators memo: Make it clear to the public and operators about well maintenance

Rework permit 

1148.2 SCAQMD rule (?)

Ordinance #___: 100 ft zoning radius, public hearing, address, health safety, and EJ

Ruth (citizen): The 1148.2 ordinance. The community wants the oil wells to be REMOVED. We have been sick day after day, and do not want our future gen to not face the same.

We don't want them to be ‘monitored’; we never get notices about implementation, so that is a lie. I have lived around these drilling areas and have never received any notification. They have never given notice. We don't want to wait 20 years, just 3-5 years for them to shut down is fine. 

Edber: Notification mentioned is when the company has to do emergency work; this is the first time that the city is creating this process; this is for emergency well maintenance

Mailing notifications sent out to all owners and residents

In a recent decision by the city planning commission; the oil company has to send mail notification to owners in 300 ft of the oil drill site, no emails in case of any emergency work 

For 2126 W. Adams oil site: operator to notify owners within 100 ft of the oil drill site

SLA CERP implementation status update: Initiated/ ongoing goals 

1. Mobile sources 

2. Auto body shop

3. General industrial facilities

4. Metal processing facilities

5. Oil & gas facilities

Planning to collaborate with CARB and speak about criteria pollutants (goal H)

Link in slides given (pdf attached) 

South LA road to AB617 implementation

http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/Agendas/Governing-Board/2023/2023-mar3-012.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Michael Morris: AB617 community actions

SLA community identified 

Hardcopy notifications for acidizing (pics) 

Notification time updates: 72 from 48 hr

Next steps

Richard Parks (resident): should have more time to let residents know before emergency fixes so they can move their families out of harm's way; chemicals used, quantities of chemicals, all should be told in the mail to residents

Will the letter be helpful to residents at all? Or a formality? 

Mike: will publish letter format on website 

Martha: will it cover chemical odourants?

Mike: 1148.1 will cover it, yes

Alyssa Yan: 

Carl Moyer program: focuses on existing older diesel equipment with cleaner equipment

Useful links: 

Presentation link: http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/ab-617-ab-134/steering-committees/south-la/meeting-presentation---march-9-2023.pdf?sfvrsn=8