The Swamp Stomp
Volume 16, Issue 2
The EPA opened an investigation into a natural gas leak from an underground pipe in Los Angeles. ABC News reported that the company responsible, Southern California Gas Company, knew about the leak as far back as October 23.
Residents of the Porter Ranch neighborhood have complained about feeling nausea, dizziness and headaches as a result of the smell of the mercaptan used to signal a leak. The California Air Resources Board estimated that 1,200 tons of the natural gas is entering the air every day.
“It’s very scary and you know don’t know what the long-term effects are going to be,” Porter Ranch resident Laurie Cherny said.
The company sated that although some people may be sensitive to the mercaptan, the leak itself did not pose a threat to public safety, as the well is located a mile away from and 1,200 feet higher than the closest home.
The Los Angeles City Attorney, as well as some residents of the area, have filed a lawsuit against the gas company, according to ABC News. Lawyers for some of the residents released an infrared video that appears to show large amounts of methane in the gas cloud over the area.
On December 18, the EPA sent an information request to SoCal Gas. EPA officials are now working with state and local regulators to find a way to stop the leak. A letter from the EPA said the agency is standing by and ready to help in any way it can if requested as a result of the investigation.
In response, SoCal Gas has been withdrawing gas at twice its normal rate for several weeks from the Aliso Canyon Facility, where the pipe is located. Spokeswoman Anne Silva said this will lower the pressure pushing gas through the leak.
“As a result of these withdrawals, which are metered, the reservoir has gone from being 93 percent full, before the leak, to at most 58 percent full, ” Silva said.
On December 28, officials from SoCal Gas said they had found the leak and were in the process of fixing it. The process could take until late February to complete. So far the company has placed over 2,200 families into temporary housing while another 3,000 are in the process of relocation, reported ABC News.
“We understand the leak has created concerns, heightened awareness and public urgency,” the company said. “SoCal Gas has the same urgency and our highest priority is to safely stop the leak as quickly as safety will allow, support the affected customers, and reduce the amount of natural gas emitting into the environment during this unfortunate situation.”
Sources:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/epa-probes-porter-ranch-natural-gas-leak/story?id=36052183
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/lawsuit-alleges-huge-release-methane-poses-threat-los/story?id=35676695
http://www.dailynews.com/environment-and-nature/20151229/epa-opens-probe-into-porter-ranch-gas-leak