Brea Municipal Code Ch. 8.24 Oil and Oil Wells

The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards for oil and gas exploration, drilling and production sites.

All persons shall comply with the requirements of Cal. Pub. Res. Code §§ 3000 et seq., Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations pertaining thereto, and the supplemental requirements of this chapter.

Prior to commencement of any drilling operations, all private roads used for access to the drill site itself shall be surfaced by clean crushed rock, gravel or decomposed granite, or otherwise surfaced and maintained to prevent dust and mud.

In addition to any requirements imposed by state law (See Cal. Pub. Res. Code §§ 3000 et seq.), no person shall erect or install any derrick, mast and/or structure except upon compliance with Title 15 hereof and payment of all requisite fees therefor.

A sign having a surface area of not less than two (2) square feet and not more than six (6) square feet bearing the current name and number of the well and the name or insignia of the operator shall be displayed at all times from the commencement of drilling operations until the well is abandoned. In the event there are more than two (2) producing wells on one (1) leasehold, it shall be sufficient if the entrances to such leasehold are posted with a sign not less than eighteen (18) inches by twenty-four (24) inches bearing the name of the operator together with the name or designation of the lease, together with an openly visible sign on each producing well designating the particular number thereof.

All sumps or sump holes, exploratory equipment and oil or gas well production equipment having external, moving parts hazardous to life or limb shall be attended twenty-four (24) hours per day or be enclosed by a steel chain link type fence not less than six (6) feet in height and in addition having not less than three (3) strands of barbed wire sloping outward at approximately a forty-five degree (45°) angle and for eighteen (18) inches from the top of the fence. There shall be no aperture below such fence greater than four (4) inches. Fence gates shall be installed at non-hazardous locations and shall be locked at all times when unattended by a watchman or service person.

Oil and gas exploration and/or production operations shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 8.20 hereof.