CA GOVERNOR DECLARES METHANE LEAK EMERGENCY

Brown declares state of emergency at Porter Ranch amid massive gas leak

Tony Barboza, January 6, 2016 (LA Times)

“…[California Gov. Jerry Brown] ordered new regulations, including stepped-up inspections and safety measures, for all natural gas storage facilities in California in response to the continuing leak that has displaced thousands of people in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of Los Angeles…The emergency regulations would require Southern California Gas Co. and other operators of gas storage facilities to conduct daily inspections of wellheads using infrared leak-detection technology, verify the mechanical integrity of wells, measure gas flow and pressure and regularly test safety valves, among other steps…Each facility would also have to draft a risk management plan that would examine the corrosion potential of pipes and other safety threats…

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“…[The series of orders were issued as Brown] declared a state of emergency stemming from a leaking well at SoCal Gas' storage facility in Aliso Canyon. For more than 10 weeks a damaged well has released large amounts of planet-warming methane and emitted sulfur-like odors that have sickened residents with nosebleeds, headaches and other symptoms…The Aliso Canyon facility, with a capacity of 86 billion cubic feet, is one of the largest in the nation…The governor also ordered the state Air Resources Board to develop a plan by the end of March to “fully mitigate” the leak's emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas that is many times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide…Under the plan, the gas company would pay for projects to reduce emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases in the state…” click here for more

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