SB 1137 Compliance for Oil & Gas Operators – Health Protection Zones
Beacon West assists oil & gas operators to comply with California's Senate Bill 1137 (SB 1137), which went into effect January 1, 2025. The bill established new public safety measures by creating buffer zones between oil and gas operations and sensitive receptors. The legislation defined a 3,200-foot Health Protection Zone (HPZ) around “sensitive receptors,” defined as homes, schools, hospitals, businesses and other public locations. Oil and gas operators with wells and facilities within these zones are restricted from most rework and drilling activities and must adhere to enhanced reporting, safety, and environmental requirements.
Key provisions of SB 1137 include:
Prohibits CalGEM from issuing oil and gas permits (unless the permit is to plug and abandon a well, is required by court order, or is necessary to prevent or respond to a threat to public health, safety, or the environment) and the construction and operation of new production facilities within an HPZ.
Establishes new operational, safety, and reporting requirements for operators, including development of leak detection and response plans.
Requires public noticing and water sampling and testing requirements before drilling operations within a HPZ.
Key compliance requirements and deadlines for oil & gas operators with production facilities or wells within a health protection zone:
By July 1 each year, submit sensitive receptor inventory and maps to CalGEM, detailing the distance of all wellheads and production facilities to the nearest sensitive receptor.
By July 1, 2026, all facilities within health protection zones must meet new safety requirements for public notices, sound levels, light generation, migration of dust and particulates beyond property boundaries, emissions and vapor venting, and chemical analyses of produced waters.
Notify residents before conducting oil and gas drilling operations within the HPZ. Operators must also offer water sampling of wells and surface waters to residents prior to commencing drilling operations.
Submit a leak detection and response plan to CalGEM by July 1, 2028, and fully implement by July 1, 2030.
Beacon West’s compliance services include:
Comprehensive Site Assessments – mapping wells and facilities against HPZs to identify potential conflicts;
Regulatory Strategy Development – custom compliance roadmap to fit your operational profile and budget;
Permitting Support – expert guidance through permitting processes;
Stakeholder Communication – professional support for community and agency engagement
SB 1137 LATEST UPDATES
In July 2025, oil producers filed a lawsuit against SB 1137, arguing the setback law is arbitrary. The case is scheduled to return to the LA Superior Court.
