SoCal Gas Charged With Failing to Report Los Angeles Leak

Los Angeles prosecutors filed misdemeanor criminal charges Tuesday against a utility for failing to immediately report a natural gas leak that has been gushing nonstop almost 15 weeks.

Legal troubles are mounting for Southern California Gas Company over the on-going leak of methane gas from its Aliso Canyon storage facility at Porter Ranch.

SoCalGas faces four misdemeanor charges, three for each day they failed to report to authorities after the leak was discovered, and one for the discharge of air contaminants.

Thousands have been displaced from their homes in the Southern California community of Porter Ranch after a utility company’s underground storage site sprung a leak last fall.

Residents have complained of headaches, nausea and other health maladies.

The updated lawsuit contends that by causing the release of some 80,000 metric tons of methane so far, SoCal Gas broke health and safety codes, public nuisance laws, and violated hazardous materials reporting requirements.

Harris’ joining in the litigation brings to 11 the number of local, state and federal agencies now either investigating or suing the gas company.

The leak has prompted state and federal legislation.

The agency said it is “working to propose new regulations to implement additional safety standards for the underground portions of natural gas storage facilities”.

“The impact of this unprecedented gas leak is devastating to families in our state, our environment, and our efforts to combat global warming”, Harris said in a statement.

“Against the backdrop of California’s ongoing efforts to reduce [greenhouse gas] emissions generally, this leak is a monumental environmental disaster”, the lawsuit contends.

The energy agencies raised concerns particularly about the reliability of electricity generation in the Los Angeles Basin during the summer months if the gas facility stays offline.

Harris, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate, is the first state official to sue, though her lawsuit incorporates some elements of lawsuits filed by the city and county of Los Angeles. The lawyer insisted that Southern California Gas Company must be held accountable.

SoCal Gas insists there is no evidence that it poses a long-term risk but some scientists say there are not enough data for them to be sure. “All of the comes from a certain subculture in the natural gas industry and regulators”, Sherman said.

The leak is invisible to the naked eye but can be viewed with infrared cameras. “We will continue to work with all applicable agencies involved to ensure that Aliso Canyon continues to provide the reliable natural gas and electricity that powers Southern California”.

“The people of California are deeply concerned by the CPUC’s failures in recent years”, he said in a statement.

It’s a key component in today’s energy supply, Pincetl said, because solar and other renewable sources aren’t yet abundant enough.