Utility pleads not guilty in Los Angeles-area gas leak

“The Division of Oil and Gas has confirmed that the leak in the Aliso Canyon storage field is permanently sealed”, Jason Marshall, chief deputy director of California’s conservation department told journalists.

Southern California Gas Company announced Thursday it had temporarily fixed the monthslong gas leak in Porter Ranch.

“We recognize the disruption the gas leak has caused to the residents of Porter Ranch and surrounding communities”.

“It is unconscionable that these regulators are putting people at risk while giving companies a pass. The last time Aliso Canyon was inspected by the PUC was the last time Jerry Brown was governor”, said Kelsey Baker, one of the activists at the PUC headquarters. It began pumping heavy fluids to control the flow of gas, and injecting cement to the leaking well.

The Environmental Defense Fund estimates that the leak emitted more than 90,000 metric tons of natural gas, of which methane is the main component, into the atmosphere.

California Air Resources Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District also confirmed the flow of natural gas has stopped and air quality in the area has returned to normal levels.

Porter Ranch residents arrive to lodge complaints at the SoCal Gas Community Resource Center in Porter Ranch, Calif. on January 8, 2016.

It was reported in October, and nearby residents complained of headaches, nausea, dizziness and nosebleeds.

Mendoza said the company operated the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, and did not believe a criminal prosecution was warranted.

In December, the gas company began drilling a relief well in an effort to stop the enormous volume of gas that had been spewing from a broken well since October 23.

In response to today’s announcement that state officials have determined the leaking well in Aliso Canyon has been permanantly sealed, local, state and federal politicians expressed relief that the well is sealed, but cautioned there was more work to be done. On Wednesday, SoCalGas pleaded not guilty to criminal charges filed this month by Los Angeles County prosecutors. More than 2,200 families in the area were temporarily relocated.

Moniz has not provided any details on potential reforms in the field, but said that “looking at and reducing dramatically methane leaks across the entire system from production to distribution” was a priority.

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, “mercaptans and other odorants have not been associated with long-term health effects and short-term symptoms will go away once the odor exposure has diminished”.