California Legislature Passes Oil Drilling Setback Requirements

New law establishes a 3,200-foot setback around new and reworked existing wells among several new requirements.

The California legislature passed SB 1137, which implements a 3,200-foot buffer zone, known as a setback, between oil wells and schools, homes, and playgrounds. The drilling setback has been a priority for the state legislature, as California was one of the few states without a setback requirement.

Most recently, in April 2021, the legislature considered…