“Air measurements that have been collected using air flights, on-site observations, and monitors in the nearby communities all confirm that the leaking gas has diminished consistent with successfully controlling the leak”, the DOGGR spokesperson said.
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The actual leak was apparently stanched late last week.
Dennis Arriola, president and chief executive of SoCalGas, said thye day marked a turning point and he pledged to take several steps to help residents return and push for new regulations to make gas storage safer.
Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, who represents a portion of Porter Ranch residents, said today in a statement that he is pleased the leaking natural gas well has been sealed, but said the development is not a victory. State officials said all of the wells will be inspected before the storage facility can resume normal operations.
Residents have eight days and seven nights to return home, and payments for relocation will end as of February 25, Wright said. The approximate 1,870 students between the two campuses have been taking classes at other schools throughout the Northwest Valley since the leak’s dangers were publicized months ago.
Many were relocated in temporary housing and hotels after complaining of ill health.
“The recovery process for a community is often fraught with uncertainty”, said the department’s general manager, James Featherstone.
“This has been among the worst environmental catastrophes in recent history”, said Robin Greenwald, a senior attorney with Weitz & Luxenberg, a law firm which is taking legal action on behalf of some Porter Ranch residents.
SoCalGas, a division of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, faces four misdemeanor charges for failing to report the release of hazardous materials from Oct. 23 to Oct. 26, and discharging air contaminants beginning on Oct. 23.
A lawyer representing the gas company entered the plea to Judge Alan Rosenfield shortly after 9 a.m. during an arraignment hearing held at the Santa Clarita Courthouse. “We will continue to cooperate with state regulators and an independent investigator as they work to determine the cause of the leak”.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz visited Aliso Canyon on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city’s Emergency Management Department will open an office in the Porter Ranch area to offer residents such information as potential refunds for city services, updates from the county assessor about possible impacts on tax bills, disaster relief for businesses and access to mental health services.
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Other major polluting gas storage sites include Hattiesburg Gas Storage in MS and Lake Gas Storage in Texas, which leak a far higher proportion of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than other comparable facilities across the country, according to the Daily News.
