The capping of the oil wells located on the Beverly Hills High School (BHHS) campus is on track for completion this fall, according to Director of Public Works, Shana Epstein. Epstein made the statement at the April 21 City Council Study Session. The completion of the project will mean that the reign of the 150-feet-tall oil rig decorated by students with painted flowers, is nearing an end.
The City and the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) have worked in tandem on the oil-capping project. In February of 2018, the two contracted with ARB, Inc., an energy infrastructure company based in California, to provide well monitoring and abandonment services. Since the project began in May of 2018, 17 of the 19 district-owned wells have been plugged, with the 18th nearing completion. During a regular BHUSD Board of Education virtual meeting on April 14, members voted 5-0 to continue with the well abatement construction, deeming it an “essential service.” On April 21, the City Council moved forward on the project without competitive bidding.
