California Governor Declares Emergency for Sempra Gas Leak

More than two months after an natural gas storage well in southern California began uncontrollably spewing methane gas, the governor of California has declared a state of emergency. According to an estimate by the Environmental Defense Fund, at least 62 million cubic feet of methane is being leaked into the air daily.

“This is far more than just a nuisance for neighbors”.

The letter is a Democratic undertaking and no Republicans were asked to participate.

The methane entering the atmosphere from the leak reportedly now accounts for about a quarter of the state’s total emissions of the strong greenhouse gas. The leak has emitted 33 tons of natural gas per hour since it was detected on October 23. Workers are drilling a relief well that will allow them to pump heavy fluids and mud into the ground to stop the leak.

Brown’s order also calls for emergency regulations requiring operators of gas storage facilities around the state to take new safety and reliability precautions.

Brown said he was directing state agencies to take additional measures to protect public health and safety, make sure Sempra is held financially accountable for the incident and strengthen the regulatory oversight of gas storage sites, according to a statement Wednesday.

The gas company was not moving fast enough for Gov. Brown, who has already been accused by Porter Ranch residents of not taking action sooner. Residents have always been complaining of illness, and thousands of people have relocated from the vicinity of Porter Ranch, California, located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

The Porter Ranch gas leak may not stop until February or March. As well as methane, the gas that is released also contains mercaptan and methyl mercaptan that give the gas the rotten-egg smell.

On Monday, a constituent affairs representative with Brown’s office told Common Dreams that he was unaware of any plans to declare a state of emergency, stating, “I think maybe he wants to wait until the situation develops a little bit more … state of emergencies are a pretty big deal”. He leads a community group that has been pushing for the state declaration and said he cried when he heard about the order. Rodger Schwecke, a SoCalGas executive, confirmed to L.A. Weekly that the company was not required by law to have one in place because the well was not “critical” – a formal definition that means it’s close to residences or roads. In addition, the gas company is prohibited from injecting more gas into non-leaking wells at the Aliso Canyon Storage Facility “until a comprehensive review of the safety of the storage wells and the air quality of the surrounding community utilizing independent experts is completed”.