Inglewood Oil Field in Inglewood, CA. (Via Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas)

The history of fracking in Los Angeles is spotted with conflict. While some argue for the process as a valuable means of providing energy and employment, others look at the issue as dangerous for the environment a risky influence on public policy decision-making.

The contention over natural resource access is unquestionably far from over. According to speakers at a recent conference, the local energy industry is undergoing a resurgence of activity. As KCET reported on the conference, entitled "Science, Democracy, and Community Decisions on Fracking," the consequences could be tremendously problematic.

"We are going to engage in the most risky extraction ever known to humankind," said Angela Johnson Meszaros of Physicians for Social Responsibility.

According to Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency John Laird, the debate over fracking in urban areas of Southern California is likely to come to a head this year. "In the last session there were two bills and they did not move out of the legislature," Laird said. "So I think there’s an increased focus and that’ll be the question this year about whether those issues are addressed."

A multimedia examination of the debate over fracking in Los Angeles was produced by Annenberg Graduate student Barri Worth in May, and can be viewed here.

Reach Staff Reporter Graham Clark here; follow him here.