Chevron Agrees to Restore Hill Land

WHITTIER â€”  Chevron oil officials have agreed to restore the hills above the city with native grasses and plants before abandoning old oil wells in an unincorporated area just outside city limits.

Chevron’s agreement was included in its application to grade 27 acres of land while searching for sites of abandoned oil wells, according to an environmental study to the county Regional Planning Commission. The application and an environmental report will be considered at the commission’s Feb. 16 meeting.

Last year, county planning officials put a halt to Chevron’s grading near Hadley Street and Satinwood Drive after Whittier officials complained that substantial soil had been bulldozed and moved without a permit. City officials hope to acquire the land and the surrounding area for future park space.

Although state law requires developers to acquire grading permits when building, it was not required when abandoning old wells, city officials said. The environmental study also calls for Chevron to install an extensive drainage system to prevent landslides during grading.

Whittier officials have also asked that Chevron provide a biologist and an archeologist to oversee the grading, city Planning Director Elvin Porter said. The commission hearing will be at 9 a.m. in Room 150 of the Hall of Records, 320 W. Temple St., Los Angeles.