Two California residents who own the royalties for oil and gas wells in Long Beach sued the California Division of Geologic Energy Management on Wednesday over the state’s oil setbacks law meant to phase out drilling within 3,200 feet of most occupied buildings.
What happened: Two mineral rights holders, Merry Vanderwall and Monte Beard Sr., filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that the setback law violates their property rights under state and federal constitutional law.
‘Royalties helped put my children through college, and I’d like them to be around as a legacy for my grandchildren,” Beard said in a statement.
Context: Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed state Sen. Lena Gonzalez’s (D) SB 1137 in 2022, banning the construction of new oil wells and the “rework,” or repair, of existing wells within 3,200 feet of sensitive receptors like schools, homes and hospitals.
