About Oil & Gas Facilities
- In Los Angeles County there are natural reserves of unrefined oil and methane gas underground. Wells bring oil and gas out of the ground to process, store, or transport it. These oil and gas operations can expose nearby communities to health and safety risks.
Problems from oil and gas operations can include:
- Air pollution: Oil and gas production create small particles that pollute the air. People may experience eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and dizziness, or breathing problems (asthma). Long-term inhalation of large amounts of these particles can lead to an increased risk of cancer or babies being born early or too small.
- Bad smells: People may experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms from rotten-egg smells.
- Noise, vibrations, and bright lights: Loud noises, bright lights, and vibrations (shaking) can make it hard to sleep, lead to stress, or lead to heart disease. Vibrations can also damage buildings, roads, or other structures and create safety problems.
- Emergencies: Accidents like chemical spills, fires, and explosions are possible and may harm nearby residents.
Information and Resources
Flyer
- Oil & Gas Facilities Health and Safety Risks (PDF) — What you can do if you live, work, play, or study near an oil or gas facility.
Reports
- The Public Health and Safety Risks of Oil and Gas Facilities in Los Angeles County (PDF) (February 2018) provides local policy-makers with an overview of relevant public health research and investigations.
- The Department of Public Health's summary of Oil and Gas Facility Health and Safety Risks (PDF) provides an overview of potential health impacts and shares resources for individuals living, working, playing, or studying near an oil or gas facility.
Community Health, Safety, and Notification Plan (CHSNP)
- The CHSNP Template (Download Word document) is a tool recommended by Public Health for operators and developers to communicate with nearby communities.
Related County Teams and Offices
- Los Angeles County Office of Oil and Gas serves as a central point of contact for the community, regulators, and industry.
Site-specific Information
Data
- CalGEM Well Finder : Use this mapping tool to find oil and gas wells in your community.
- Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning: GIS-NET
- Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning: Maps & GIS
Sustainability
- Visit our Climate Health page
Report a Problem
- Problems related to oil and gas facilities can be reported to CalGEM by calling the CalGEM Southern District Office at 562-637-4400 or email calgemsouthern@conservation.ca.gov. Include specific details in the complaint such as the address or cross street to identify the facility in question. CalGEM regularly investigates complaints. To report a problem, visit our website here.
- Report bad smells, air pollution, and idling trucks at 800-CUT-SMOG
- If there is a spill, hazardous situation, or emergency call 911.
Contact Us
Business Hours
Monday through Friday
8:00am - 5:00pm
(Pacific Time)
Closed on Los Angeles County holidays
Contact Information
Tel: (626) 430-9820Email:
County of Los Angeles Public Health
Environmental Health
Oil and Gas Production Program