South Los Angeles Residents Push to Close Murphy Oil Drilling Site Amid Health Concerns
In South Los Angeles, residents, including Genaro and Catalina Ventura, are campaigning to shut down the Murphy oil drilling site after more than a decade of community organizing. They suspect the site's pollution is linked to health issues, including cancer…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, August 11, 2026 —
Residents in South Los Angeles are intensifying their efforts to close the Murphy oil drilling site, citing concerns that pollution from the facility is linked to serious health problems within the community, including cancer and asthma. The campaign, which has been ongoing for over a decade, is spearheaded by local residents such as Genaro and Catalina Ventura.
The Los Angeles City Council is currently reviewing whether to revoke the operating license for the drilling site. E&B Natural Resources, the company responsible for managing the Murphy oil drilling site, has stated that it adheres to all applicable regulations. The company also noted that a commissioned report concluded there was no scientific evidence to support claims of health risks to the surrounding community.
For more than ten years, community members have been organizing to address their concerns about the drilling site’s impact. The ongoing debate centers on the potential environmental and health consequences of the site’s operations. The city’s decision regarding the operating license for E&B Natural Resources is pending, leaving the future of the Murphy oil drilling site uncertain.
Story summarized from the original created by Keith Mizuguchi on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
