Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Map: Hundreds Of Methane Gas Leaks Around Los Angeles
The Environmental Defense Fund has mapped where roughly 250 methane leaks are located beneath the streets of L.A. by cleverly rigging up a Google mapping car with air monitoring equipment.
"These leaks are all over the place: In our neighborhoods and under our cities," Tim O’Connor, director of the Environmental Defense Fund's California Climate Initiative, told the L.A. Times.
While the identified leaks plotted on the interactive map—which are mostly around Pasadena, Inglewood and Chino—aren't considered a major threat to public safety, the gas is a significant contributor to climate change, and repairing the leaks are considered by experts to be important for meeting Governor Jerry Brown's emission reduction targets. And if methane gas does build up to high concentrations in contained buildings and there is an ignition source, some leaks could cause an explosion, which famously happened to a Ross Dress for Less on W. 3rd St. near Fairfax in 1985.
The results of the mapping project have been reported to the Southern California Gas Co., which just released it's own, less user-friendly, interactive map.
Support for LAist comes from
Several of the leaks discovered by the Environmental Defense Fund were unknown to SoCal Gas and required immediate repair. However, the utility concluded that 40-50% of the sources are coming from outside of the city's natural gas pipelines. Those other sources typically include natural ground seeps like the La Brea Tar Pits or gas from oil fields found throughout L.A., which is largely considered to be the cause of the Ross explosion.
Identifying the location of the methane leaks with the help of the Environmental Defense Fund's map will likely also help other efforts to pinpoint and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across L.A. A new state law also charges that the California Public Utilities Commission must work towards further minimizing methane leakage from natural gas infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the L.A. Times, gas utilities are required to file a report today about natural gas leaks and how they plan on managing them.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist