Long Beach – Last Friday, community members and advocates gathered at Synergy Oil & Gas, just minutes from the oil drilling operations in the Los Cerritos Wetlands, to demand that Governor Newsom reins in California’s oil regulator, California Geological Energy Management (CalGEM). At the rally environmental advocates and community members called on CalGEM to do their job and uphold the newly established climate law SB 1137, which would prevent new oil drilling within a 3200 ft setback of neighborhoods and improve regulations on existing oil drilling in that setback zone. 

At the rally Scientists Rebellion came with scientists in their lab coats and a mock oil derrick. The event also featured rousing remarks from Andrea Vega of Food & Water Watch, Paulo Panaligan of Sierra Club Long Beach, Mary Gonzales a Signal Hill resident, and member of Climate Brunch, Ann Bartz of Third Act SoCal, Greg Spooner of Scientist Rebellion and Charles Moore of the Los Cerritos Wetland Task Force. 

In June, California’s oil regulator, California Geological Energy Management (CalGEM), rushed through 30 permits for new oil and gas drilling inside the newly established health and safety buffer zones, just hours after the referendum on SB 1137 was withdrawn. However, despite environmental advocates immediately calling the agency out, CalGEM is refusing to rescind the remaining permits. 

Rushing these permits through was a major step back in what should have been a moment of victory for the millions of Californians whose health has been impacted by toxic drilling for far too long. As recently as Aug. 7, in yet another possible example of the dangers of fossil fuel extractions, there were reports of an oil spill in Long Beach causing road closures.

Andrea Vega, Southern California Senior Organizer for Food & Water Watch stated, “CalGEM’s blatant refusal to rescind the remaining permits is an affront to California’s vital climate laws and the residents living nearing and experiencing the health effects of fossil fuel production. If Governor Newsom is truly committed to preserving his climate legacy, he must rein in the regulators at CalGEM and direct the agency to rescind all of the permits. Don’t allow CalGEM to bow down to Big Oil’s greed.” 

Paul English, an Environmental Epidemiologist with Scientist Rebellion stated, “Issuing permits for new wells at the Pumpkin Patch/Los Cerritos Wetlands will threaten the health of those living nearby. Drilling and operating oil and gas wells results in higher concentrations of air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter which are linked with increased COVID-19 risks and other health problems such as asthma, cancer, immunodeficiency, heart failure, and high blood pressure.  Further, oil drilling transmits water and soil pollutants, and noise and other stressors.”

Ann Cantrell, Co-Chair of Sierra Club’s Los Cerritos Wetlands Task Force stated, “On the same day that the Referendum suspending SB 1137 was revoked and this law prohibiting new oil wells within 3200 feet of homes, schools, and hospitals went back into effect, CalGEM issued 30 new drilling permits within the unpermitted setback zone to a single company, Synergy Oil and Gas, LLC, for a single site, the Pumpkin Patch. Drilling here will pollute the Los Cerritos Wetlands, the San Gabriel River, and Alamitos Bay and endanger the health and safety of residents, including thousands who will be living in new condos within 1000 feet of the proposed drilling site. It is CalGEM’s duty to enforce the law, not to allow exceptions or make excuses for violating it. Do the right thing – put people before profit, deny all 30 permits, and leave oil in the ground!”

Paulo Panaligan of Sierra Club Long Beach stated, “Residents of Long Beach are calling on Governor Gavin Newsom and CalGEM to revoke the 30 new permits for oil wells at the Los Cerritos Wetlands. Oil drilling in this sensitive environmental habitat not only endangers public health and safety, but also disrespects indigenous land. Governor Newsom must stand by his promise to crack down on fossil fuels and revoke these permits.”