City Attorney, SoCal Gas Agree on Plan to Relocate Porter Ranch Residents

Public health officials have said the leak is not a threat to public health, but hundreds of residents have complained of nausea, headaches, bloody noses and other maladies.

Over 1,800 households had been temporarily relocated by December 16, and many of those affected are signing up to class action suits against reservoir operator Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) alleging health problems from the gas, according to local media.

City attorneys are also requesting that Southern California Gas Co., which operates the gas storage facility, appoint one or more “special masters” to oversee the relocation process and make temporary housing available within 48 hours for any resident requesting relocation. As the pressure from weight on top of the pipe causes the gas to diffuse, it only continues to dissipate across a wider and wider area. While I can escape to my home to recover from my symptoms, this community wakes up to conditions that cause vomiting, nosebleeds and serious respiratory issues daily. The leak already has forced evacuations of nearby neighborhoods, and officials say pollutants released in the accident could have long-term consequences far beyond the region. On Thursday night a citizen advisory commission that was convened in response to a Los Angeles city councilman’s urging met in a school auditorium in one part of the Porter Ranch home development, which backs up in the foothills below the southern boundary of the storage field.

Clark added that residents “should also receive better, quicker and completely adequate relocation assistance”. People have been told they have to wait, they are 300th in line, and that they will not be able to relocate before Christmas.

Many displaced residents are clustered around several relocation hotels in the San Fernando Valley.

Scientists and environmental experts say the Aliso Canyon leak instantly became the biggest single source of methane emissions in all of California when it began two months ago. “Our new Community Resource Center will provide another way for them (area residents) to get the information they need”, said Gillian Wright, vice president of customer services for SoCalGas.

Earlier this month, SoCalGas reported that the day the leak was discovered Aliso Canyon contained 77 Bcf of stored gas supplies and the actual inventory on Dec. 10 was 68 Bcf because between October 23 and Dec. 10 the utility withdrew 9 Bcf during normal storage field operations (see Daily GPI, Dec. 10).

The situation Porter Ranch residents are facing today is unacceptable. “The focus is the health and safety of residents, period”.

Erin Brockovich is a renowned consumer advocate who works to help Americans everyday on multiple fronts.