By Wes Venteicher, POLITICO
SENTINEL STRIKES BACK: The operator of the largest urban oil field in California is suing the state over Assemblymember Isaac Bryan’s recent bill to impose stiff fines on low-production wells in its 1,000-acre Inglewood Oil Field.
Sentinel Peak Resources filed a lawsuit Monday alleging that AB 2716, which calls for the closing of the 800 wells in its LA-based oil field by 2030, unfairly targets one business and imposes excessive, improper penalties in violation of state and federal law.
“AB 2716 was adopted this year to penalize a lawful business that operates under the most stringent regulations in the world,” Matt Wickersham, an attorney representing the company, said in a statement. “Sentinel Peak is responsibly operating the Inglewood Oil Field and providing valuable energy resiliency to the Southern California market.”
Bryan originally wrote AB 2716 to impose hefty fines on the operation of low-producing wells statewide. He limited it to apply only to his district amid negotiations over an oil-industry sponsored ballot measure to overturn California’s law to institute buffers around oil wells near homes and schools. The oil industry ultimately withdrew the measure.
“The state has a right to set limits on wells that have big environmental impact and little economic benefits,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, a sponsor of AB 2716, in a statement about the lawsuit. “Sentinel Peak can still develop the land but it cannot poison the community with wells that produce, on average, less than 3 barrels per day.”
Last year, Sentinel Peak Resources reached an agreement (opens in new tab) with Culver City to shut down all the wells within the city’s portion of the oil field by 2030. Bryan’s bill applies to the whole oil field.
The suit asks a judge to prevent the law from taking effect in March of next year. — WV, BB
