Under increasing political pressure from environmentalists, public health advocates and Porter Ranch residents, Governor Jerry Brown on January 6 issued an order declaring a state of emergency in the Aliso Canyon Gas Leak disaster that started on October 23.
Porter Ranch residents will rally Saturday before a South Coast Air Quality Management District hearing to demand an immediate shutdown of the facility. Many consider the Aliso Canyon Gas Leak to be the worst disaster of its kind since the BP Horizon Oil Spill of 2010.
Below is the press release from Food and Water Watch and Save Porter Ranch:
MEDIA ADVISORY
January 8, 2016
Contacts:
Alexandra Nagy, Food & Water Watch, 818-633-0865, fwwatch.org
Matt Pakucko, Save Porter Ranch, 818-464-5844, saveporterranch.com
Saturday:
Porter Ranch and San Fernando Valley Residents Tell AQMD to Shut Down Aliso Canyon at Order for Abatement Hearing
Hundreds of residents will rally before the hearing to demand the permanent shutdown of the Aliso Canyon Storage Facility
Granada Hills, Los Angeles — As a noxious gas blowout detected 77 days ago continues unabated in their community, residents of Porter Ranch will rally Saturday before a South Coast Air Quality Management District hearing to demand an immediate shutdown of the facility. Hundreds of residents are expected to turn out to testify that an AQMD-stipulated Order of Abatement negotiated with SoCalGas over the massive leak at its Aliso Canyon Storage Facility falls short of what is necessary to protect residents’ health and property, and the climate, from this ongoing disaster and from future leaks. Residents will urge the Hearing Board amend the Order for Abatement to include the shut down of the facility.
WHEN:
Saturday, January 9, 2015, Rally at 8 a.m., Hearing from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
WHERE:
Granada Hills High School
10535 Zelzah Avenue, Granada Hills
Rally on Zelzah Avenue in front of school
Hearing in the gymnasium
WHO:
Residents of Porter Ranch and the surrounding neighborhoods in the San Fernando Valley; Save Porter Ranch; Food & Water Watch; SoCal 350 Climate Action; Sierra Club
VISUAL/AUDIO:
Hundreds of residents with signs and a large banner reading “SHUT IT DOWN”; Song and Speeches
BACKGROUND:
The leak detected on October 23 was caused by well integrity failure and is only the most recent of many such leaks caused in California by aging infrastructure. The leak has forced more than 2500 households to relocate, and 1800 more are waiting for relocation assistance.
What is an Order for Abatement?
An abatement order requires a company operating out of compliance to take specific actions or to shut down its operation to come into compliance.
Why is the SCAQMD petitioning the Hearing Board to Issue this Order for Abatement? SCAQMD’s petition alleges that SoCalGas is creating a public nuisance by discharging odor emissions into nearby communities, beginning on October 24, 2015 and continuing through the present, in violation of Health and Safety Code Section 41700 and District Rule 402. SoCalGas has been unable to stop discharging air pollutant releases impacting the nearby communities and has stated publicly that it may take at least three months to mitigate the situation. SCAQMD’s proposed order, if approved, will require SoCal Gas to do the following:
- Stop the leak as quickly as possible
- Capture all leaking gas as quickly as possible
- Utilize all gas from the reservoir as quickly as possible until all leaks are stopped
- Inspect and maintain all wells as quickly as possible
- Monitor all emissions from the well and reservoir
- Retain an independent third party to conduct a health study
- Mitigate greenhouse gas impacts of the leak by funding projects that restore value to the community
More than 22,000 people have signed a petition circulated by Food & Water Watch calling for the shutdown of the Aliso Canyon Storage Facility. The SCAQMD Hearing Board has the authority to shut down the facility temporarily or permanently through the Order for Abatement.
###
Save Porter Ranch champions a safe, clean and healthy environment for our communities though community empowerment and engagement.
Food & Water Watch champions healthy food and clean water for all. We stand up to corporations that put profits before people, and advocate for a democracy that improves people’s lives and protects our environment.