Fact vs. Fear in the Porter Ranch gas leak

PORTER RANCH, CA - JANUARY 16: Sue Francis holds a sign while attending a public hearing before the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) regarding a proposed stipulated abatement order to stop a nearby massive natural gas leak, on January 16, 2016 in Granada Hills, near Porter Ranch, California. More than 80,000 metric tons of methane gas have spewed from the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility since October 23, causing thousands of Porter Ranch residents to leave their homes, and the closures of two schools where students are being bussed to campuses farther away from the gas. State officials are now concerned that a seventh attempt to plug the well may have increased the chance of a blowout, which would greatly increase the release of gas as well as the risk of a massive well fire if ignited by a spark. The Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) hopes to repair the leak by sometime in March. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Last week, the pile-on of lawsuits continued against Southern California Gas Company for its natural gas leak near Porter Ranch.

Last week the pile-on of lawsuits against Southern California Gas Company for its natural gas leak near Porter Ranch continued as California Attorney General Kamala Harris added her allegations of negligence and damage and L.A. County Dist.

Atty. Jackie Lacey filed four misdemeanor criminal charges against the gas company. Plaintiffs attorneys have been very active in the area, but as far as KPCC reporting has shown, most of the fear of health problems seems unsupported by the air monitoring thus far.

Meanwhile, more politicians are jumping in marked last week by L.A. City Councilman — and L.A. Board of Supervisors-hopeful — Mitch Englander.

Some of the actions could be seen as redundant. For instance, the gas company already said it's stopped injecting new gas into the storage fields. This was followed by a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) order, which was followed by legislation and then congressional action.

Today on AirTalk, we look at the fear vs. fact and the politics of the Porter Ranch gas leak.

Guests:

Sharon McNary, Infrastructure Reporter for Southern California Public Radio; she tweets from

Tweets by KPCCsharon

Stephanie O’Neill, Health Care Correspondent for Southern California Public Radio; she tweets from

Tweets by ReporterSteph