With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
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.
Huge Gas Leak In The Valley Boosted California's Methane Emissions By 25%
The Aliso Canyon Gas & Oil Field (Photo by Roy Randall via the Creative Commons)
A massive gas leak is sickening residents in an affluent L.A. neighborhood, and SoCalGas says it could take months to fix.Methane has been pouring out of a leak discovered on Oct. 23 from the Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon storage facility, and residents in nearby Porter Ranch—a neighborhood in the Valley—are saying that not only is the rotten egg smell noxious, but that the gas is causing headaches, nausea, dizziness and nosebleeds. Around 30 families have been relocated with assistance from SoCalGas, reports the Los Angeles Daily News.
The amount of gas leaking is massive—around 50,000 kilograms per hour according to a report by the California Air Resources Board. Between the leak's discovery on Oct. 23 and Nov. 20, the methane emitted has accounted for a quarter of the state's emissions.
(via California Air Resources Board)
Methane is a greenhouse gas, and the amount of gas estimated to have leaked from Aliso Canyon is equivalent to 0.80 million metric tons of carbon dioxide—or as the L.A. Times puts it, driving 160,000 cars for a year or using 90 million gallons of gasoline. California is already home to the second worst "hot spot" of methane emission in the U.S., thanks to the landfills and cattle ranches in the Central Valley. Angelenos driving north this week will no doubt recognize Harris Ranch when they drive by it.
Sponsor
"The relative magnitude of emissions from the leak compared to other sources of methane in the State underscores the urgency of stopping the leak," says the Air Resources Board in their report.
The leak itself is from a ruptured pipe a few hundred feet below the surface, but the well it is connected to goes up to 8,500 feet below. The initial attempt to plug the leak with brine and gravel failed, and SoCalGas is now drilling a relief well in another attempt to fix the leak, and according to KPCC that work could take up to 90 days.
In the meantime, Porter Ranch residents remain furious about the noxious gas. Methane itself is not toxic, but the mercaptan added to it to give it the signature "rotten egg" smell is the source of the discomfort and health problems associated with the leak.
On Monday night, several residents affected by the leak held a rally downtown to vent their anger. "We live in a very nice house—I don't want to move out," Sue Holl, a Porter Ranch resident who attended the rally, told NBC Los Angeles. "But I don't know about the long term health risks for my children."
A hearing was held by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning to discuss the matter. According to KNX 1070, SoCalGas issued an apology over the leak.
SoCalGas has put up a website with up-to-the-minute information concerning the gas leak.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
