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Residents press council over 24-hour oil drilling; council directs review of permit conditions
Summary
Residents told the council that an oil company has been drilling 24 hours a day at noise levels that community members measured up to 70 decibels. The council directed the zoning administrator to review conditions and consider imposing limits or revocation; related motions passed by recorded votes.
Residents from an affected neighborhood told the Los Angeles City Council that an oil operator (identified in testimony as Stalker Oil) has been drilling around the clock and creating persistent, high noise levels.
A resident who identified herself during public comment said the drilling has been allowed by repeated variances and described ambient neighborhood sound levels of 48 decibels versus drilling noise she and neighbors measured as high as 70 decibels at night. "Stalker Oil is drilling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," the speaker said, and urged the council to limit drilling to daytime hours.
Councilmembers moved to direct the zoning administrator to review the conditional-use permit and to work with the applicant and the council office to add conditions to prevent community disturbance. One councilmember said the motion would give staff direction and, if voluntary conditions failed, revocation proceedings could follow.
The tabulated vote on the related items was recorded as 11 ayes. The councils action provided direction to staff; the record shows the zoning administrator was asked to meet with council staff and the local member to seek enforceable conditions.
Next steps: The zoning administrator and city staff will review permit conditions and may propose modifications or proceed with enforcement or revocation if additional protections are warranted.
