Los Angeles, CA--Today, the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) released its final analysis of the health impacts of extreme drilling techniques, such as fracking and acidization. The culmination of over two years of research by an independent panel of expert scientists, the study is the first in California's history to take a comprehensive look at the health impacts of enhanced well stimulation techniques.

The report revealed that all “oil and gas development poses more elevated health risks when conducted in areas of high population density, such as the Los Angeles Basin, because it results in larger population exposures to toxic air contaminants.”  This independent analysis confirms that all forms of neighborhood drilling puts Angelenos’ health at risk.

In Los Angeles, where well stimulation takes place as close as 10 feet away from homes and schools, the study reveals the need for increased health and safety protections for every Angeleno impacted by neighborhood drilling.

In response to the release of the CCST study, STAND-LA released the following statement:

"The CCST study validates what our communities have known for years—that oil extraction is fundamentally incompatible with residential communities full of homes, schools and hospitals. Oil companies consistently tell us that these oil extraction techniques can be used safely in our neighborhoods, but this study confirms what we have learned first hand: conducting these activities in our neighborhoods puts our health and well-being at risk.

Neighborhood drilling is unequivocally an issue of environmental justice. The majority of these dangerous operations occur in our communities, which are already overburdened by social, economic and environmental health challenges. The CCST study reveals the need to protect every Angeleno, regardless of their socioeconomic status, from drilling near their homes. These dangerous activities should not continue in our backyards, or in anyone's backyard.

This independent scientific analysis proves that acidization and other forms of extreme oil extraction have significant and dangerous health impacts when located close to populated areas. Now that our L.A. City Council members are armed with this knowledge, they have a responsibility to step up and put an end to neighborhood drilling.”

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STAND-LA is a coalition of community groups working to put an end to urban oil extraction and ensure that every Angeleno lives in a neighborhood free from the dangers of neighborhood drilling.