State Officials Confident Gas Wells Are Safe, But Residents Don’t Trust Them
Porter Ranch residents are still wondering exactly what’s to blame for the headaches, nosebleeds, nausea and other health symptoms reported by some residents, first during the leak and intermittently since then.
KQED News:
Regulators May Reopen Aliso Canyon Gas Field Over Residents’ Objections
About a year after plugging the largest methane leak in U.S. history, Southern California Gas Co. may once again start pumping natural gas into its Aliso Canyon storage field in Los Angeles County. State regulators are weighing whether to reopen the gas field over the objections of residents and politicians. “I think the wells are safe,” says Ken Harris, California’s Oil and Gas supervisor, one of two regulators making the decision. He says SoCalGas has replaced miles of pipeline at the field. Inspectors have cleared 37 out of 114 gas wells for operation so far and are still checking out the rest. And Harris says new rules would require more and better inspections. (Peterson, 2/10)
In other news from across the state —
KPBS:
Imperial Valley Food Bank Launches Capital Campaign
The Imperial Valley Food Bank has launched a campaign to build a new warehouse and distribution center. And its timing appears to be right on the mark.Hunger is a major problem in Imperial County, one of the poorest parts of California. The county has a high poverty rate, and many people grapple with chronic unemployment. (Goldberg, 2/10)