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| California methane leak 'permanently sealed' | California methane leak 'permanently sealed' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A leaking gas well near the US city of Los Angeles which has been polluting the air for four months has been "permanently sealed," officials say. | A leaking gas well near the US city of Los Angeles which has been polluting the air for four months has been "permanently sealed," officials say. |
| The Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) had been pumping in heavy fluids and cement to seal the well. | The Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) had been pumping in heavy fluids and cement to seal the well. |
| The leak began in October in a vast underground storage field in Porter Ranch, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. | The leak began in October in a vast underground storage field in Porter Ranch, on the outskirts of Los Angeles. |
| The natural gas leak, one of the largest in US history, has caused thousands to relocate. | The natural gas leak, one of the largest in US history, has caused thousands to relocate. |
| The escaping gas at the Aliso Canyon storage field accounted for a fifth of all methane emissions - an extremely potent greenhouse gas - across the entire state of California. | |
| 'Much work to do' | 'Much work to do' |
| "We are pleased that DOGGR [the Division of Oil and Gas] has confirmed that the well has been permanently sealed," Dennis V Arriola, head of SoCal Gas, said on Thursday. | "We are pleased that DOGGR [the Division of Oil and Gas] has confirmed that the well has been permanently sealed," Dennis V Arriola, head of SoCal Gas, said on Thursday. |
| "We have much work to do, partnering with state and local agencies to help the local community and impacted residents return to normal," he added in a statement. | "We have much work to do, partnering with state and local agencies to help the local community and impacted residents return to normal," he added in a statement. |
| Last week a crew from SoCal Gas injected heavy fluids into the well - in the Santa Susana mountains around a mile from the nearest homes — before pumping in cement to make a seal. | Last week a crew from SoCal Gas injected heavy fluids into the well - in the Santa Susana mountains around a mile from the nearest homes — before pumping in cement to make a seal. |
| The gas company on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to criminal charges for allegedly waiting three days to report the huge leak back in October. | The gas company on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to criminal charges for allegedly waiting three days to report the huge leak back in October. |
| The latest estimate for the amount of methane emitted from the leaking well, taken on 13 February, is 94,067,040kg (94,000 metric tonnes), according to the California Air Resources Board. | The latest estimate for the amount of methane emitted from the leaking well, taken on 13 February, is 94,067,040kg (94,000 metric tonnes), according to the California Air Resources Board. |
| Spokesman Stanley Young told the BBC this meant that during the leak California's entire emissions of methane rose "by roughly 20%", pushing up the state's total annual methane emissions by around 6%. | Spokesman Stanley Young told the BBC this meant that during the leak California's entire emissions of methane rose "by roughly 20%", pushing up the state's total annual methane emissions by around 6%. |
| Mr Young said final figures for the amount of gas emitted would not be known for several weeks. | Mr Young said final figures for the amount of gas emitted would not be known for several weeks. |
| Aliso Canyon is a 3,600 acre site comprising 115 wells and is the second largest such facility in the US. | Aliso Canyon is a 3,600 acre site comprising 115 wells and is the second largest such facility in the US. |
| Analysis - James Cook, Los Angeles correspondent, BBC News | Analysis - James Cook, Los Angeles correspondent, BBC News |
| The leak may be over but the blame game has only just begun. SoCal Gas and its regulators are squabbling over who was responsible for the catastrophic failure at Aliso Canyon. | The leak may be over but the blame game has only just begun. SoCal Gas and its regulators are squabbling over who was responsible for the catastrophic failure at Aliso Canyon. |
| The company insists it acted in accordance with the law. The state of California disagrees (although it has admitted that regulations might need tightening) and the battle is playing out in the courts. | The company insists it acted in accordance with the law. The state of California disagrees (although it has admitted that regulations might need tightening) and the battle is playing out in the courts. |
| Many residents of Porter Ranch and neighbouring communities, literally sick of the whole affair, think both sides are at fault, accusing them of an "incestuous" relationship. They have many outstanding questions. | Many residents of Porter Ranch and neighbouring communities, literally sick of the whole affair, think both sides are at fault, accusing them of an "incestuous" relationship. They have many outstanding questions. |
| What are the long-term health impacts of exposure to the gas? Will residents be compensated adequately for the nightmare of the past four months? Will SoCal Gas be allowed to continue operating the facility or will it be shut down? | What are the long-term health impacts of exposure to the gas? Will residents be compensated adequately for the nightmare of the past four months? Will SoCal Gas be allowed to continue operating the facility or will it be shut down? |
| There are questions too for the United States as a whole. | There are questions too for the United States as a whole. |
| With gas in California's air and lead in Michigan's water, crumbling infrastructure and weak regulation are putting people at risk across the country, say environmental campaigners. | With gas in California's air and lead in Michigan's water, crumbling infrastructure and weak regulation are putting people at risk across the country, say environmental campaigners. |
| Action is needed at a national level, they argue, or the disasters will just keep happening. | Action is needed at a national level, they argue, or the disasters will just keep happening. |
| In early January, the company apologised but said it was not responsible for what environmental groups say is an environmental catastrophe. | In early January, the company apologised but said it was not responsible for what environmental groups say is an environmental catastrophe. |
| It has been providing temporary accommodation or funds for more than 6,500 households relocated from Porter Ranch while the gas continued to leak and repairs were taking place. | It has been providing temporary accommodation or funds for more than 6,500 households relocated from Porter Ranch while the gas continued to leak and repairs were taking place. |
| Residents put up in short-term housing by SoCal Gas now have just over a week to return home. However, according to the LA Times, state officials are pushing back against this timescale calling for new criteria to determine the air quality has returned to normal. | Residents put up in short-term housing by SoCal Gas now have just over a week to return home. However, according to the LA Times, state officials are pushing back against this timescale calling for new criteria to determine the air quality has returned to normal. |
| Many living close to the site had been complaining of nausea, headaches and other symptoms. Environmental campaigner Erin Brockovich described it as the worst environmental disaster in the US since 2010. | Many living close to the site had been complaining of nausea, headaches and other symptoms. Environmental campaigner Erin Brockovich described it as the worst environmental disaster in the US since 2010. |
| What's behind California's 'health catastrophe'? | What's behind California's 'health catastrophe'? |