Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced Tuesday that SoCalGas will face four misdemeanor criminal charges in connection with the gas leak: three counts of failing to report the release of hazardous materials from October 23-26, 2015, and one count of discharging air contaminants, beginning on October 23, 2015, to the present.
The leak, which is ongoing, has released 80,000 tons of methane gas into the atmosphere in the area around Aliso Canyon.
The stench of odorized methane fumes has sickened scores of people and led to the temporary relocation of thousands of residents from the Porter Ranch community of northern Los Angeles at the edge of the crippled underground gas storage field. Attorney-General Kamala Harris said that the impact of this unprecedented natural gas leak was devastating not only to the state but also to the families and environment.
SoCalGas says it discovered the leak October 23 at its Aliso Canyon storage facility.
SoCalGas is facing more than two dozen lawsuits — including potential class-actions from residents and businesses over the leak as well as from regional air regulators and city and county authorities.
Zelda Rothman's family blames the Porter Ranch gas leak for her death and has filed a lawsuit. Civil penalties, injunctions, and restitution are all sought to hold the company accountable.
In their complaint, the children of Zelda Rothman said their mother was suffering from lung cancer when natural gas began to leak from the well in Aliso Canyon about 3 miles away from her home.
On Monday, SoCal Gas released an "incident update", citing its own success in drilling past 200 feet of caprock above the storage zone. The addition of the state attorney general allows the plaintiffs to press additional claims such as alleging statewide harm through greenhouse gas emissions, according to The Los Angeles Times. Sherman noted in a statement that the Department of Transportation Materials Safety Administration has established federal safety regulations for natural gas transportation. The company will respond to the lawsuit through the judicial process. The Attorney General is already serving a crucial coordinating role, facilitating the exchange of information among the numerous state, federal, and local agencies with jurisdiction over the gas leak. Los Angeles County joined the suit in January.
It's a key component in today's energy supply, Pincetl said, because solar and other renewable sources aren't yet abundant enough. The agency said the SoCalGas gas leak probably came from a well casing.
Boxer stood by a dramatic infrared photo that showed the otherwise invisible plume of methane-laced natural gas from the blowout.
"This lawsuit absolutely strengthens the fight against SoCal Gas", said Kathryn Phillips, Director of Sierra Club California.
Source: Utility faces criminal charges after massive gas leak prompts state of emergency
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