Part 2 — Development Standards For Petroleum Operations

The following Sections of Part 2 apply only to those operations subject to a CUP or DA, except for those existing operations as noted in CMC § 9501(B).

• A. The surface locations of wells and tanks within an oil and gas site shall not be located within:

  1. Seven hundred fifty (750) feet of the property boundaries of any public school, public park, clinic, hospital, long-term health care facility.

  2. Seven hundred fifty (750) feet of the property boundaries of any residence or residential zone, as established in this Code, except the residence of the owner of the surface land on which a well might be located and except a residence located on the land which, at the time of the drilling of the well, is under lease to the person drilling the well.

  3. Seven hundred fifty (750) feet of the property boundaries of the commercially designated zone CN, CA, MU-CS or MU-SB (see Table 1-1), as established by this Code.

  4. Fifty (50) feet of any dedicated public street, highway, public walkway, or nearest rail of a railway being used as such.

• B. For all injection wells, the applicant shall provide a copy of the area of review (AOR) study, consistent with the requirements of California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1724.7 , as per DOGGR.

• C. Legally existing oil and gas operations that do not meet the setback requirements and were conforming immediately before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Chapter are not considered nonconforming uses and are not made subject to Division 2 of Part 8 of Chapter 1 of Article IX, Nonconformities, by this Chapter. Such operations may continue to lawfully operate to the extent the operations can demonstrate to the City vested rights as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Chapter, but are prohibited from expanding operations beyond those demonstrated vested rights. Vested rights for a particular well may be demonstrated by the existence of an installed conductor in a cellar for that well or any other method established by law. The operator can replace structures and equipment required for oil and gas operations that are damaged, have failed, are at risk of failure, or are at the end of their useful life. Said replacements shall be made with like-kind structures and equipment that do not expand capacity or structural footprint. If the operator can demonstrate that such structure or equipment is not reasonably available or appropriate for current operational practices, the Petroleum Administrator may approve minor expansion of equipment or structure upon finding the proposed changes are minor and do not constitute or tend to produce an expansion or intensification of capacity for the site. For existing oil and gas facilities and operations that do not meet the setback requirements as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this Chapter, drilling of new wells is prohibited unless the operator can demonstrate vested rights for each new well.

• D. Consolidation and Relocation Incentives.

1. Existing Uses in Setback. For existing wells legally operating within the prohibited setback identified in subsection (A) of this Section, an operator can exchange wells, either existing or vested, at a one-to-two (1:2) ratio to another (existing) receiving site(s) without counting toward new development that would require a CUP or DA.

   2. Existing Uses Outside Setback. For existing wells legally operating outside the prohibited setback, an operator can exchange only wells actually existing at the time of the ordinance codified in this Chapter (not vested or hypothetical wells) at a one-to-one (1:1) ratio to another existing receiving site(s) without counting toward "new development" that would require a CUP or DA. The contributing site must be completely abandoned before wells can be constructed at any receiving site. The operator must completely abandon all surface rights to the contributing site (i.e., no future oil and gas operations to occur at the site) and provide acceptable proof to the City of the same. All receiving sites must exist and have active operations as of the date of approval of the ordinance codified in this Chapter.

   3. For All Consolidation or Relocation. The operator must provide the City with notice of intent to transfer prior to abandonment of any well(s) or contributing site intended to be consolidated or relocated. Transfers may occur at any time after abandonment is complete and the rights may be "banked" and assigned to another operator upon notice to the City. No well can be transferred more than one time. The receiving well location or site must be located outside the boundaries identified in subsections (A)(1) through (A)(3) of this Section, and comply with subsection (A)(4) of this Section outside of the prohibited setback. The receiving site cannot expand by more than ten (10) wells from any source or exchange, in addition to those existing or vested, without being considered new development. All receiving sites must comply with CMC § 9501(B) for sites not required to obtain a new CUP. The receiving site must also extract petroleum from the same oil or gas field; consolidation or relocation between fields is prohibited for incentive purposes.

• (Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

The following measures shall be implemented throughout the operation of any oil and gas site or project subject to this Chapter.

(Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

Except for oil and gas sites located within industrial zones, and located farther than one thousand (1,000) feet from any prohibited zone as listed in Table 1-1, all lighting sources that may be introduced on a site in support of nighttime operations at the onset and throughout all operations at an oil and gas site shall be screened and directed to prevent light or glare from passing beyond site boundaries. Outdoor lighting shall be restricted to only those lights that are required by Article 8 for lighting building exteriors and safety and security needs.

(Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

The following measures shall be implemented for all projects that are subject to this Chapter. (Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

The following policies specific to streets or other roads shall apply to all projects for which this Chapter is applicable.

(Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

The following policies apply only to signs visible from the public right-of-way:

• A. Signage as required by DOGGR or law shall be kept in good legible condition at all times.

• B. No sign other than that described in this Chapter or required by law shall be allowed, other than informational signs, "No Smoking" signs, and other signs as reasonably required for safe operation of the project.

• C. Identification signs shall be posted and maintained in good condition along the outer boundary line and along the walls adjoining the public roads that pass through the oil or gas site. Each identification sign shall prominently display current and reliable emergency contact information that will enable a person to promptly reach, at all times, a representative of the operator who will have the expertise to assess any potential problem and recommend a corrective course of action. Each sign shall also have the telephone number of the City Department of Planning or Zoning Enforcement section and the number of SCAQMD that can be called if odors are detected. For existing oil and gas sites, the signs shall be updated when they are replaced or repaired.

• (Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

The installation of any surface equipment designed to produce steam shall be prohibited without the approval of the Petroleum Administrator. The operator shall submit a steaming plan addressing equipment sizing and design to the Petroleum Administrator for review and approval. The operator shall also submit well casing and cementing design specifications as required by DOGGR. (Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

• A. Each oil or gas site shall be served by and utilize only reclaimed water, aside from potable water used for human consumption, unless the use of reclaimed water is deemed infeasible by the Petroleum Administrator, in which case the following criteria apply:

  1. The operator must prepare and submit a supply assessment study of all water resources available for use and submit the study for review to the Petroleum Administrator.

  2. If the study indicates that potable water is the only feasible alternative then the operator may utilize such a water source only if the operator provides an equal and measurable benefit to the community for such use, as determined by the Petroleum Administrator.

• B. New electrical power shall be routed underground from the nearest source adequate to meet the needs of the well site.

• (Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

No equipment shall be stored or placed on the site which is not either essential to the everyday operation of the oil or gas well located thereon or required for emergency purposes. (Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

The following measures shall be implemented throughout the operation of any oil or gas site or project subject to this Chapter.

(Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

Throughout operation of an oil and gas site, the operator shall comply with the following environmental resource management policies. (Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

The operator shall comply with all of the following provisions:

• A. All DOGGR regulations related to drilling, workovers, operations and abandonment operations.

• B. No more than two (2) rigs shall be present within the oil or gas site at any one time.

• C. All derricks and portable rigs and masts used for drilling and workovers shall meet the standards and specifications of the American Petroleum Institute as they presently exist or as may be amended.

• D. All drilling and workover equipment shall be removed from the site within ninety (90) days following the completion of drilling or workover activities unless the equipment is to be used at the site within thirty (30) days for drilling or workover operations.

• E. All drilling sites shall be maintained in a neat and orderly fashion.

• F. Belt guards shall be required over all drive belts on drilling and workover equipment. Guarding shall be as required by California Code of Regulations, Title 8 , Section 6622 , or as may be subsequently amended.

• G. Aboveground pumpjack assemblies are prohibited for new wells located in nonindustrial areas, and new wells in nonindustrial areas sites are restricted to the exclusive use of submersible downhole pumping mechanisms for extraction. However, any well already lawfully existing at the time of implementation of this Chapter using a pumpjack assembly may continue to do so. The requirements of this subsection are applicable to all oil and gas sites in all nonindustrial zones except where the Petroleum Administrator determines that the use of submersible downhole pumping mechanisms is infeasible due to technical reasons or other circumstances which would specifically preclude the use of such technology.

• (Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

The operator shall comply with the following provisions related to pipelines throughout operation of an oil or gas site.

• (Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))

During full production of an oil or gas site no temporary buildings are allowed to be constructed or maintained anywhere at the site.

(Ord. 16-1590, Exh. B (§ 1))