A study released Wednesday on the impacts of hydraulic fracturing at the Inglewood Oil Field found that fracking would not harm the environment.  The study focused on the approximately 1,000-acre Inglewood Oil Field in the Baldwin Hills of Los Angeles County.  Fracking has occurred in the area since about 2003.  The study showed that there has been no impact linked to fracking on groundwater, well integrity, methane levels, earthquakes or community health.  The study also showed that air emissions, noise levels and vibration levels in the area have remained within the regulatory limits.

The owner and operator of the oil field, Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP), funded the study as part of the settlement of a lawsuit relating to the validity of a district created by Los Angeles County to address the compatibility  of oil production with land uses in the area.  PXP hired an independent consultant to perform the study, and the study was peer reviewed by two experts selected by PXP and Los Angeles County. 

Co-authored by Michael N. Mills and Robin B. Seifried.

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