Oil and gas: low-production wells: Baldwin Hills Conservancy: Equitable Community Repair and Reinvestment Account: health impacts

The law ties penalties on covered low-producing and unplugged oil wells to direct support for residents living near them. It protects that aid from reducing eligibility for state or local assistance programs.

What the law does ​

• Requires the Department of Conservation, if the Legislature appropriates funds, to send the first $5 million in the Equitable Community Repair and Reinvestment Account to Los Angeles County for direct cash assistance.
• Limits aid to up to 1,000 verified households within 2.5 miles of identified covered wells that include a member with respiratory or reproductive health impacts.
• Requires equal one-time payments, a simple and accessible application, residency and health-impact verification, and a random lottery if more than 1,000 eligible households apply.
• Requires payments within 60 days of recipient selection by direct deposit, prepaid debit card, or paper check.
• Allows up to 10% of the program appropriation for county administration if separately appropriated, and delays other account-funded community projects until the cash-aid funds are distributed.

Who it affects ​

• Households near covered oil wells in the Baldwin Hills Conservancy area with a member experiencing respiratory or reproductive health impacts.
• Los Angeles County, which must operate the assistance program.
• Owners of covered low-production and other wells, whose penalties fund the account.