California AG sues gas company over uncontrolled leak

“We will do everything we can as prosecutors to help ensure that the Aliso Canyon facility is brought into compliance”, she said.

The company will be arraigned on February 17 at the Santa Clarita Branch of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Department 3.

Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat who lives in the Porter Ranch neighborhood, announced Tuesday that he’s introducing legislation aimed at preventing future gas leaks by directing the federal Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to set safety standards for natural gas storage facilities. “We will defend ourselves vigorously through the judicial process”.

The lawsuit also cites environmental damage caused by the uncontrolled release of 80,000 metric tons of methane, the prime component of natural gas and a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

Residents have reported symptoms including headaches, nosebleeds and rashes, among other woes.

The criminal charges came hours after state Atty. That well continues to spew gas and Southern California Gas Company said it may not be capped for another month.

The Attorney General seeks relief in the form of injunction, civil penalties, and restitution. In trying to reassure the public there’s no long-term health risk from the leak, Southern California Gas Co. has said in news releases and FAQs on its website that since the crisis began, just two air samples briefly showed elevated concentrations of the substance. The Southern California Gas Corporation’s Aliso Canyon storage facility leak has also been predicted to result to billions of dollar-cost.

A spokeswoman said the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation and was focused on stopping the leak, which it expects to plug by the end of the month. Southern California Gas is owned by Sempra Energy, a San Diego-based corporation whose board of directors includes Kathleen Brown, the sister of Gov. Jerry Brown. Because the surge of pollution is in the form of methane, it will have a more immediate heat-trapping effect on the atmosphere.

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

SoCal Gas spokesman Mike Mizrahi has repeatedly insisted that his company complied with all relevant state and federal regulations in the run-up to the leak.

The degree of behind-the-scenes coordination and lack of public involvement in the leak investigation disturbs some consumer advocates.

The three state agency heads said they were forming a team with local power producers to study the reliability of the region’s gas service and would hold a public workshop in April.