California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the California Governor, proposed Thursday an statewide buffer zone of 3,200 feet to seperate homes, schools, hospitals, and other areas from oil wells.

California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), California’s state oil regulator, published a draft rule that would prohibit existing wells in these areas. However, it would mandate new pollution controls.

California is home to the seventh-largest oil-producing state in the country but has no rule or standard for the distance that active wells need to be from communities. According to FracTracker Alliance analysis, more than 2,000,000 residents of California live within 2.5 miles of an oil or gas well. Another 5,000,000, which is 14%, of California’s total population, also reside within this distance.

Living near drilling areas for oil or gas is more at risk. preterm birthsAsthma, respiratory disease and cancer, research shows. Oil drilling disproportionately affectsMajor oil fields in Los Angeles County and Kern County have many residents who are black or Latino.

The new restrictions could take a couple years to go into effect and will likely face pushback from the state’s oil and gas industry. Western States Petroleum Association and State Building and Construction Trades Council oppose a mandate from the state to impose setbacks. These groups argue that buffer areas will increase fuel costs and hurt workers.

Newsom released a statement saying that the reliance on fossil fuels had led to an increase in asthma in children and birth defects in babies. It also meant more exposure for communities to harmful, toxic chemicals. California is making a major step in protecting the over two million people who live within half a mile of oil drilling sites. Many of these residents are low-income or from communities of color.

Environmental advocacy groups have long urged the governor to instate a 2,500-foot setback between fossil fuel operations and communities, as well as place an immediate moratorium on all new oil and gas permits in those zones. Legislation to ban fracking and instate a buffer zone failed this year in a state committee vote.

Others oil-producing states, such as Texas and Pennsylvania have also imposed some kind of setback on properties and oil operations.

California’s 3200 foot setback, if adopted by the federal government would make it the most restrictive in the nation. Newsom directed initial regulators to examine buffer zones surrounding oil wells in 2019. However, they failed to meet the deadline of December 2020 to make that information available.

Kassie Siegel (director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute) stated in a statement that “the largest statewide buffer area in the country was a huge victory for frontline community members who have fought for protections for many years.”