S2. E12. Wilmington Oil Field Part 2

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📍 Hey folks. Thanks for tuning into part two of the Wilmington Oil Field. Here we go.

The Wilmington Oil Field, as far as I understand, is still one of the most productive in the LA area.

We’ve got beef with the companies, but not with the workers.

I always say I grew up in the shadow of the refineries.

Literally. Yeah — just towering over you. Just all these pieces of equipment and smokestacks.

Mm-hmm. Environmental justice communities — or, in the state’s parlance, “disadvantaged communities” — it’s like you get further and further abstract, and these communities are treated as a monolith, when in fact they’re not. And I feel particularly blessed to have experience working with multiple communities during my time at CBE.

Tara, I want to ask you: what makes Wilmington distinct from other frontline communities CBE works with across California?

Great question. When I first started back in 2018, even though I’m from LA, the position in the legal department was up in the Bay Area. So I moved up there and worked with our teams in Richmond and East Oakland. Then I returned to LA and kept working with CBE. I started working with the Wilmington team about three years ago — two years ago? Yeah — so I can kind of compare the three communities.

While there are many similarities in terms of industries — for example, Richmond is also a refinery community like Wilmington, and Oakland also has the port — all of the communities are impacted by diesel trucks servicing industrial sites and warehouses, which are magnets for diesel traffic.

I will say Wilmington — gosh, how do I say it? I think the industrial impact is the most visible in Wilmington. That’s the first thing I would say. You have not one, but three refineries, which visually are kind of the go-to stock image of industrial wasteland — all these pieces of equipment and smokestacks.

Then you have oil drilling, which is very unique to Wilmington. The Bay Area has very little — basically no — oil drilling. LA has quite a bit, but Wilmington has the most in the city of LA. The Wilmington Oil Field, as far as I understand, is still one of the most productive in the LA area. Other oil fields, like those on the Westside, are still active but lower-producing.

Whereas the oil patch in Wilmington, which extends a bit into Long Beach, is still very much producing. The oil wells are very visible. There’s no visual demarcation of “this is industry, this is community.”

Even out from my parents’ house, there’s a pipeline running through an alley between homes. It literally says “possible explosion potential,” right in the middle of a bunch of houses. It’s so integrated into the identity of Wilmington. We’ve been an industrial town — we’re an industrial people.

If you’ve ever driven down Avalon, there’s a mural of the port with hard hats. That’s part of the identity. It’s very working-class.

Is the port in Oakland still active?

Oh yeah — very much so.

Okay.

Actually, riding BART when I lived up there — that felt like a big connection between the two towns.

A port town.

Yeah. Even riding BART toward Oakland Airport, you see container ships. It felt like a home away from home — except for the oil drilling. It’s very similar.

The distinction I was drawing is that industrial sources in places like East Oakland often look like nondescript buildings — just big boxes. You don’t see dramatic smokestacks. There might be similar emissions, like a massive crematorium built right next to a neighborhood, but it looks like an office building in a business park.

So it feels hidden — disguised. Whereas in Wilmington, they don’t even bother.

Thank you for sharing that.

Historically, refineries have justified their presence by pointing to jobs and economic stability. How has that narrative held up over time for Wilmington residents?

Overall, the refineries themselves employ around 2,000 people in a city of about 60,000. These are very well-paying jobs and highly coveted.

I have family and friends who’ve worked at refineries. We’re not in opposition most of the time. Workers want safer conditions — they’re at the point source. Like Morgan was saying, our interests align. We want workers to be safe.

A lot of these jobs are well-paid because of decades of union organizing — USW, the Steelworkers. There’s a historical relationship there. But what we’re getting at is the false dichotomy we’re constantly pushed into: because it’s their job, they’re expected to defend it.

Any time we push for regulation or improved health outcomes, the counter-narrative is always, “This threatens my job.” You can’t really blame workers when employers are threatening them.

We’ve got beef with the companies, not the workers.

And unfortunately, it’s understandable when workers are told, “These people are trying to create a rule — the sky is falling — we’ll close, we’ll leave, you’ll lose your job.”

This threat is now being used against the entire state of California, particularly around refinery closures like Phillips 66. The industry is threatening closures and gasoline shortages to extract deregulation — loosening environmental protections.

The reason this is happening is because demand for gasoline is declining due to policies like EV adoption. And there is no managed decline plan at the state level — something CBE has advocated for for years.

Even workers know this industry won’t last forever. We can debate timelines, but the transition is inevitable. The question is: will it be a just transition, or will the oil industry continue squeezing concessions and profits?

Without regulation and planning, the industry weaponizes closures to threaten job loss and rollbacks — just like they dangle “community benefits” money locally. It’s the same power play, scaled up.

“If you want these benefits, you need to kneel.”

Exactly.

Thank you for that. We’re going to move on to a recent article about an explosion outside Wilmington.

This is from ABC7, dated October 3, 2025. A massive fire erupted at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo, sending flames and plumes of smoke into the air.

Please note: this refinery is not in Wilmington. I’m using it as an example.

This kind of event could decimate an entire community. That’s the greatest fear — especially on a geological fault line.

I’ve always thought about worst-case scenarios. Growing up, we joked about refinery explosions. One time — around 2007 or 2008 — an explosion shook our windows. I was maybe six or seven. We heard a loud boom. My dad thought it was gunfire and told us to get down.

Then it was like, “Oh — refinery explosion.” That was normal.

But if something truly catastrophic happened — think about El Segundo. That incident released emissions equivalent to half a year’s worth of car pollution at once. That could happen here — on a bigger scale.

These are ultra-dangerous facilities.

Refining involves heating flammable substances under pressure with toxic chemicals. Workers deserve credit for managing such a complex process.

But beyond explosions and fires, there’s also the issue of hydrofluoric acid (HF).

Modified hydrofluoric acid is still hydrofluoric acid — a highly toxic, corrosive substance used in gasoline alkylation. It penetrates skin, attacks calcium, forms toxic vapor clouds, and can be fatal by inhalation.

“Modified” means proprietary additives — refineries claim it falls faster and aerosolizes less. But the core chemical is the same.

There are alternatives. Many refineries don’t use it — including, I believe, two local ones.

Tara is correct. I looked this up and found that Valero Wilmington Refinery uses modified hydrofluoric acid. I also found an EPA press release I wasn’t aware of:

“EPA Fines Valero Wilmington Refinery for Chemical Safety Violations” — June 4, 2025

The EPA cited violations of the Clean Air Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Valero paid $270,437 in penalties.

An inspection found that Valero underestimated how far dangerous chemicals could spread in a worst-case release — leaving homes, schools, and daycares unprepared.

They also failed to notify officials after sulfur dioxide releases in 2018, 2020, and 2021.

Hydrofluoric acid releases can form ground-hugging clouds that travel up to four miles — fatal for miles. It’s the stuff of horror movies. It reminds me of Bhopal, India — the worst industrial disaster in history.

CBE has long campaigned to phase out this chemical. Recently, a lawsuit was filed under the Toxic Substances Control Act against the EPA to push for a ban.

Now, I want to explain CalEnviroScreen.

CalEnviroScreen maps where pollution and inequality overlap. It looks at pollution — refineries, freeways, diesel trucks, toxic sites — and population vulnerability — poverty, asthma, heart disease, housing stress, healthcare access.

Communities scoring in the top 25% are officially labeled “disadvantaged.” That designation determines where cleanup funding, protections, and investments go.

It doesn’t measure everything — like odors or stress — but it gives data to validate lived experience.

If you Google CalEnviroScreen, you’ll see a map. When I pull up Wilmington, it’s deep red — census tract 6037294701 — 99th percentile. Highest impact.

San Pedro and Long Beach also show impacts. But when you look at Palos Verdes or Rolling Hills — it’s green. Dark green. Like moss.

This tool mirrors historic redlining maps — literally the same colors.

Redlining denied loans and investment based on race. Though outlawed, its effects remain: fewer trees, more freeways, refineries, ports, pollution. Worse health. Shorter lives.

That’s environmental injustice.

I once sat on the beach in Palos Verdes and felt the air difference — physically. And when someone said, “Well, refineries have to be somewhere,” it shattered me. That’s the sacrifice zone mentality.

I don’t believe that. We can plan better. You’re never outgunned — you’re out-planned.

Next, we talk about acceptable risk.

Regulatory agencies can’t reduce risk to zero. But agencies like OEHHA — the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment — study chemical risks and publish guidelines.

They don’t enforce; they advise. And often health risk assessments only look at individual equipment — not cumulative exposure.

Community pressure matters. Every comment, every testimony builds the record.

South Coast AQMD often requires 7–10 complaints before investigating — and they must witness the event. By the time inspectors arrive, it’s gone.

This system rewards normalization — especially in Black and Brown communities — while wealthier areas get immediate response.

If you smell something, see flaring, dust, or emissions, you can call 1-800-CUT-SMOG.

📍 Before we wrap up, I want to clarify something.

When I talk about frustration with advocacy and government, I’m not saying people shouldn’t advocate. I’m saying advocacy is hard. It’s exhausting. It can feel like shouting into the void.

Feeling frustrated doesn’t mean you don’t care — it means you care deeply.

Advocacy is still necessary. It’s how change starts and harm gets named. But we have to be honest about the toll it takes.

If you’re tired or questioning whether it’s worth it, that doesn’t disqualify you — it means you’re human.

We keep advocating — with honesty, community, and without pretending this work is easy.

Alright folks — in part three, we’ll wrap up my interview with Tara and Morgan.

Thank you for tuning in. Until next time, take care.

Works Cited

ABC7 (KABC-TV). “Chevron refinery fire in El Segundo extinguished; investigation underway into cause.” ABC7 Los Angeles, updated Oct. 4, 2025. 

ABC News / ABC7. “Massive fire erupts at Chevron refinery in El Segundo.” ABC7 Los Angeles, Oct. 3, 2025. 

California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). “California Climate Investments to Benefit Disadvantaged Communities.” CalEPA, page describing disadvantaged-community designation tied to CalEnviroScreen 4.0. 

California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). “CalEnviroScreen 4.0.” OEHHA (CA.gov), report page describing the tool and release context. 

California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). “Uses of CalEnviroScreen.” OEHHA (CA.gov), including CalEPA designation of the top 25% of census tracts as disadvantaged communities (SB 535 context). 

California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). “SB 535 Disadvantaged Communities.” OEHHA (CA.gov). 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). “Understanding redlining (student handout).” CFPB, Nov. 7, 2022. 

Federal Reserve History. “Redlining.” Federal Reserve History, June 2, 2023. 

South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD). “Complaints.” AQMD.gov (complaint options and hotline number). 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “EPA fines Valero Wilmington Refinery for chemical safety violations.” EPA News Release, Los Angeles, CA, June 4, 2025. 

University of Richmond, Digital Scholarship Lab. “Mapping Inequality: Redlining in New Deal America.” DSL (University of Richmond). 

Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Bhopal disaster.” Britannica, updated Dec. 29, 2025. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Medical Management Guidelines for Hydrogen Fluoride.” Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry / CDC, Emergency Response guidance.