Real-life impact of Idle and Orphan Wells
Larry The Farmer
Larry Saldaña is an organic farmer in the Central Valley who has fought for justice from governmental authorities since an idle well spewed crude oil over his 2.5-acre farm earlier this year. Nine months after the initial incident, the oil driller has still refused to provide proper compensation for the health, safety, and financial havoc they’ve caused Saldaña and his family. The company responsible is yet to face governmental accountability.
Real-life people like Larry are impacted by the irresponsibility of fossil fuel companies daily. Read more on his fight here:
Toro Canyon Creek
A so-called “unpluggable” well has compromised the environmental safety and wildlife surrounding the Toro Canyon Creek in the Central Valley since the 1990s. First drilled in the late 19th century by Occidental Petroleum and Mining Co, this oil seepage well and faulty oil-water separator have caused multiple crude oil spills. Santa Barbara County has expended $3.72 million to address ongoing leaks.
Read more on how Central Coast Californians are paying to clean up after fossil fuel companies here:
Beverly Hills School District
Nineteen unplugged wells sat idle across from Beverly Hills Unified School District’s property. After the drillers responsible for these wells filed bankruptcy, the school district was coerced into spending millions of taxpayer dollars to plug the wells. Drillers filing for bankruptcy protection is a common way Californians can potentially get stuck paying the price of cleaning up after polluters.
Read more about Beverly Hills Unified School District’s idle wells here:
See how idle and orphan wells are impacting Californians across the state:
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State finds 27 oil wells leaking methane in Arvin-Lamont area
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State considering changes after activists press for action on leaky oil wells
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Six idled oil wells leak explosive methane near Bakersfield homes in the past week
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Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells Emit Carcinogens and Other Harmful Pollutants, Groundbreaking Study Shows
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California Lets Companies Keep ‘Dangerous’ Oil Wells Unplugged Forever
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Gas wells leak explosive levels of methane in Bakersfield
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Gas Companies Are Abandoning Their Wells, Leaving Them to Leak Methane Forever
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Some oil field violations linger for years in Kern
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Environmental groups talk about potential gas leak hazard after 23,000 wells sold in CA