The City of Long Beach Planning Commission voted November 30 to recommend that the city council to approve an environmental impact report for the Los Cerritos Oil Consolidation and Wetlands Restoration Project.

 

The proposal allows for the restoration of land currently used as an oil field owned by Synergy Oil & Gas. The company will move operations onto city land and a site currently used as a pumpkin patch and Christmas tree lot. The properties in question are located near 2nd Street and East Pacific Coast Highway.

 

Development Services Director Amy Bodek said, “There were folks who were against the project related to fracking issues and wetlands issues. But Synergy owns the property, and they own the mineral rights. And they have the absolute right to develop the oil rights. And we do feel very confident that the plan is a really good way to minimize oil operations over the long term and then get the wetlands restored.”

 

A date for the item to be heard before the city council has not been set.