City, County Officials Seek Answers About Aliso Canyon

Los Angeles City and county officials have submitted motions endorsing a state legislative bill to prohibit gas injection at Aliso Canyon until last year’s leak is explained. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitchell Englander have each submitted motions to their respective legislative bodies endorsing Senate Bill 146. In addition to requiring the identification of the leak’s cause, the bill also would move back the deadline for the Public Utilities Commission to determine the feasibility of minimizing or eliminating the use of Aliso Canyon from July 1 to Dec. 31, according to Englander’s office. “It is unacceptable that as we approach the one-year anniversary of the closure of the Aliso Canyon Leak, we still don’t know the root cause of the largest leak in U.S. history,” Englander, who represents part of the San Fernando Valley, said in a statement. “With over 15,000 residents relocated, two schools closed and dozens of businesses affected, it is simply irresponsible to reopen without a completed investigation.” The facility in Aliso Canyon, located in the mountains above Porter Ranch, is owned by Southern California Gas Co. The gas leaked started in October 2015 and lasted until February 2016. It forced 8,000 residents to evacuate their homes. The state has ordered the gas company to stop gas injection at the site. State law requires a public meeting before any gas can be injected into the Aliso Canyon facility and that meeting is scheduled for Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 at the Hilton Woodland Hills.