City of Long Beach - File #: 21-0487

• File #: 21-0487
• Version: 2
• Name: DS - Construction in the Vicinity of Oil Wells/Methane Mitigation
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 4/14/2021
• In control: City Council
• On agenda: 6/1/2021
• Final action: 6/8/2021
• Title: Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 18.78 relating to construction in the vicinity of abandoned oil wells, read and adopt as read. (Citywide)
• Sponsors: Development Services
• Related files: 21-0488

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/8/2021	2	City Council	approve recommendation and adopt	Pass
6/1/2021	1	City Council	declare ordinance read the first time and laid over to the next regular meeting of the City Council for final reading	Pass

TITLE
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 18.78 relating to construction in the vicinity of abandoned oil wells, read and adopt as read. (Citywide)

DISCUSSION
There are a total of 6,640 wells (1,947 active, 775 idle, and 3,918 abandoned) in Long Beach. With these wells and other soil and methane gas conditions come numerous overlapping regulations governing well construction, abandonment, and operations. The City of Long Beach (City) currently requires that construction projects proposing to develop near wells adhere to the California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) standards. The proposed action will create tailored regulations specific to Long Beach that provide better outcomes for public safety and a more efficient regulatory process for applicants.

Currently, CalGEM standards provide setback recommendations and well abandonment regulations. Construction projects near active wells are governed by the Fire Code. Long Beach utilizes the City of Los Angeles standards for methane gas detection and mitigation. Development projects proposed near wells are required to adhere to CalGEM recommended setbacks and abandonment regulations or must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, if they diverge from these provisions.

The Department of Development Services is proposing to standardize the process for those seeking alternatives to the CalGEM provisions and to establish methane detection and mitigation regulations. A survey was conducted of best practices used by several Southern California agencies and City staff subsequently developed, and is recommending, alternative equivalent regulations to those of CalGEM as well as methane detection and mitigation regulations.
Wells

To develop near oil or gas wells, CalGEM requires that wells be abandoned in accordance with the most current State regulations, which currently involve multiple cement plugs (as many as eight cement plugs) and that all s...