CA AB2716

Division of Conservation must identify all low-production wells (producing fewer than 15 barrels of oil per day or 60,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day) in Los Angeles County oil fields adjacent to state parks/recreation areas within the Baldwin Hills Conservancy boundary by March 1, 2025.

Well owners are prohibited from operating identified low-production wells for more than 12 months starting March 1, 2026, with violations subject to $10,000 per month administrative penalties until the well is plugged and abandoned.

All wells meeting the geographic and operational criteria must be permanently plugged and abandoned by December 31, 2030, with $10,000 per month penalties assessed after January 1, 2031 for non-compliance.

Creates the Equitable Community Repair and Reinvestment Account to receive collected administrative penalties for allocation to Los Angeles County projects benefiting communities within 2.5 miles of identified wells, including parks, affordable housing, urban greening, and climate resilience initiatives.

Account balance is capped at $20 million, with a $10 million cap after 50 percent of covered wells are abandoned starting December 31, 2030.