The Los Angeles (LA) City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a motion to prohibit drilling new oil and gas wells, phase out production from existing wells, and establish a plan for plugging and remediating all wells in the city.

“From Wilmington to the San Fernando Valley, gas drilling and oil wells have disproportionately affected the health of our working class neighborhoods,” said Council President Nury Martinez. “This is yet another example of how frontline communities disproportionately bear the impacts of pollution and climate change.” 

The city has a total of 5,229 oil wells, including 296 that are idle and the majority within 2,500 feet of homes, schools and hospitals, according to Elected Officials to Protect America (EOPA), an environmental group that...