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Southern California Gas Reaches $4 Million Settlement Over Natural Gas Leak Southern California Gas Reaches $4 Million Settlement Over Natural Gas Leak
(10 days later)
A California company that operated a natural gas storage system that leaked last year, spewing thousands of tons of methane and other chemicals into the air and forcing the evacuation of more than 6,000 people, reached a $4 million settlement with state prosecutors, officials announced on Tuesday. A California company that operated a natural gas storage system that leaked last year, spewing thousands of tons of methane and other chemicals into the air and forcing the evacuation of more than 8,300 households, reached a $4 million settlement with state prosecutors, officials announced on Tuesday.
The company, Southern California Gas Company, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor of failing to immediately report the Oct. 23, 2015, gas leak to the California Office of Emergency Services and to the local Certified Unified Program Agency. As part of the plea, the company will be ordered to pay $307,500 in fines and penalties, the Los Angeles County district attorney, Jackie Lacey, said in a statement.The company, Southern California Gas Company, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor of failing to immediately report the Oct. 23, 2015, gas leak to the California Office of Emergency Services and to the local Certified Unified Program Agency. As part of the plea, the company will be ordered to pay $307,500 in fines and penalties, the Los Angeles County district attorney, Jackie Lacey, said in a statement.
The company will also be required to install and maintain an infrared methane monitoring system at the site in Aliso Canyon that will cost up to $1.5 million. Other provisions call for pressure monitors at each gas well, an outside company to test and certify the systems, and the hiring of six full-time employees to operate and maintain the new leak detection systems around the clock.The company will also be required to install and maintain an infrared methane monitoring system at the site in Aliso Canyon that will cost up to $1.5 million. Other provisions call for pressure monitors at each gas well, an outside company to test and certify the systems, and the hiring of six full-time employees to operate and maintain the new leak detection systems around the clock.
The total cost for these positions will be about $2.25 million for the next three years, according to the prosecutor’s office. The company will also pay $246,672 for the cost of the investigation and emergency response by the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Health and Hazardous Materials Division.The total cost for these positions will be about $2.25 million for the next three years, according to the prosecutor’s office. The company will also pay $246,672 for the cost of the investigation and emergency response by the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Health and Hazardous Materials Division.
Terms of the settlement must be completed by a Nov. 29 sentencing date. The agreement will not interfere with pending civil suits against the company, Ms. Lacey said.Terms of the settlement must be completed by a Nov. 29 sentencing date. The agreement will not interfere with pending civil suits against the company, Ms. Lacey said.
The prosecutor’s office said that with the conviction, the company could face more serious criminal penalties in the future “if the same unlawful conduct occurs.”The prosecutor’s office said that with the conviction, the company could face more serious criminal penalties in the future “if the same unlawful conduct occurs.”
Southern California Gas Company said in a statement that the agreement was “another important step in our efforts to put the leak behind us and to win back the trust of the community.”Southern California Gas Company said in a statement that the agreement was “another important step in our efforts to put the leak behind us and to win back the trust of the community.”
The agreement stems from a natural gas leak that engineers believed was caused by a rupture 500 feet below the surface. Residents who returned after being evacuated continued to complain of being sick from the odors even after the leak was declared capped in February.The agreement stems from a natural gas leak that engineers believed was caused by a rupture 500 feet below the surface. Residents who returned after being evacuated continued to complain of being sick from the odors even after the leak was declared capped in February.
Alexandra Naga, a senior organizer with the group Food & Water Watch, which has been campaigning to shut the site, called the fine “barely a slap on the wrist” for the company.Alexandra Naga, a senior organizer with the group Food & Water Watch, which has been campaigning to shut the site, called the fine “barely a slap on the wrist” for the company.
“No fine can make SoCalGas’ aging Aliso Canyon storage facility safe,” she said in a statement.“No fine can make SoCalGas’ aging Aliso Canyon storage facility safe,” she said in a statement.
Matt Pakucko, the president and a founder of the group Save Porter Ranch, which has been monitoring the well system and also seeks its closing, worried about what will happen when its wells are restarted. He noted that the company reported a leak from a pipe as recently as Monday.Matt Pakucko, the president and a founder of the group Save Porter Ranch, which has been monitoring the well system and also seeks its closing, worried about what will happen when its wells are restarted. He noted that the company reported a leak from a pipe as recently as Monday.
“There are still plenty of people getting ill,” said Mr. Pakucko, who has lived a little more than a mile from the gas operation for nine years. “This place has been sitting idle for 10 months now. We don’t know what’s going to happen when it’s pumped back up.”“There are still plenty of people getting ill,” said Mr. Pakucko, who has lived a little more than a mile from the gas operation for nine years. “This place has been sitting idle for 10 months now. We don’t know what’s going to happen when it’s pumped back up.”
The rupture led to state reforms about the regulation of the Aliso Canyon storage site specifically and the introduction of legislation about the placement of natural gas wells statewide.The rupture led to state reforms about the regulation of the Aliso Canyon storage site specifically and the introduction of legislation about the placement of natural gas wells statewide.