21_0103_EARTHJUSTICE_KernCountyOil_043

Kern County, CA — Zoe Sanchez and Aeline Sanchez play at the Garden in the Sun playground in Arvin, a few hundred feet from an active oil well on Jan. 3, 2021

Kern County, CA is responsible for 75% of the state’s oil and is the largest oil-producing county in the U.S.A. The County also has a poverty rate of 22%, well above the national average of 13%. Bakersfield and the rural areas surrounding the city — such as Arvin, Lamont, Shafter, and Lost Hills — have dozens of oil wells and multiple refineries. Many local residents are demanding more restrictions and safety precautions to protect the health of the community and the farming environment, working with local orgs like CCJEN to pushback against the dangerous practices of oil industry in Kern County.

CONTACT INFO: Mom Sindy Sanchez sanchez09sindy@gmail.com