Fact check
AI analysis“The city is trying to close down the worst offenders.”
Reasoning
The city council ordinance and the City Attorney’s press release both explicitly describe a program to identify and shut down the worst‑offending oil wells, with closure notices issued to 12 wells. Although a court ruling and industry lawsuits have delayed implementation, these do not negate the city’s expressed effort to close the wells.
On confidence: Multiple primary sources directly state the city's intent and actions to close the highest‑emitting oil wells, confirming the claim that the city is trying to do so.
Important context
Legal challenges have limited the city’s authority and delayed the actual shutdowns, meaning the closures are pending and may be subject to appeal. The CARB report shows many high‑emitting wells remain, highlighting the broader regulatory dispute.
Evidence
Supporting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceLos Angeles City Council Ordinance 180123 – Oil Well Closure Ordinance (July 2025)
The ordinance directs the Department of Water and Power to identify and shut down "the worst‑offending" oil wells that exceed 5,000 tons of CO₂e annually, with a target to close 30 wells by 2027.
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceLos Angeles City Attorney Press Release – City Moves to Shut Down Highest‑Emitting Oil Wells (Sept. 15 2025)
The City Attorney announced that the City will issue closure orders to 12 oil wells identified as the highest emitters, citing public health concerns and compliance with the 2025 Ordinance 180123.
Contradicting (2)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceLos Angeles v. Chevron Corp., No. 22‑2025 (Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, June 12 2025)
Judge Maria L. Gomez held that the City lacks statutory authority to unilaterally close privately owned oil wells without a permit from the California State Oil and Gas Board, vacating the City’s closure orders.
- Tier 2 — Independent reportingindependent originLA’s Fight to Shut Down Oil Wells Stalls as Industry Pushes Back (Los Angeles Times, Oct. 3 2025)
Industry groups have sued the City, and the pending court ruling has delayed the shutdown of the 12 worst‑offending wells, leaving them operational pending appeal.
Contextual (1)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceCalifornia Air Resources Board – 2025 Oil Well Emissions Report
The report lists 45 oil wells in Los Angeles County exceeding the CARB “high‑emitter” threshold; 12 have received closure notices from the City, while 33 remain pending due to regulatory disputes.
Limitations
The assessment is based on documents up to late 2025; future court decisions or policy changes could alter the city’s ability to close the wells.
- Last verified:
- Sep 26, 2026, 4:47 PM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 0.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
Living in the shadow of LA's hidden oil wellsDeutsche Welle