Celebrities, congressmen speak out about Porter Ranch gas leak

PORTER RANCH, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A U.S. congressman has pushed the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate a natural gas leak in a Porter Ranch neighborhood as Hollywood celebrities are beginning to take note.

Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman of the 30th District moved into the Porter Ranch community about a year ago.

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Sherman has encouraged the EPA to launch an investigation into the gas leak and fumes spewing from the Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon plant.

Many residents have claimed the leak has made them sick.

MORE: Porter Ranch family moves out on Christmas due to sickening gas leak

"A good chunk of the folks have moved out, some want to move out and this is a beautiful area. This is a place where everybody wants to move in, until this," Sherman said.

The congressman is also encouraging the EPA to develop a plan to protect public health and require SoCal Gas to put that plan in place.

"The EPA can lend its expertise and I am also hoping the EPA will help develop national standards," Sherman said.

As residents head into the New Year, some are not too optimistic about what kind of year it will be in their community with gas still spewing from the leak which was detected in October.

MORE: LAUSD votes to relocate Porter Ranch students affected by gas leak

"I think the fallout to our green house, I think the fallout to the community, the damage that it's done will be seen down the road," David Balen of Porter Ranch said.

Hollywood stars are beginning to speak out about the gas leak, as actor Leonardo DiCaprio, known for his passion for protecting the environment, posted this on his Instagram account.

"We're devastated, you know, our community's been shaken up, our schools have been shaken up, the people have been relocated. A lot of people still want to stay here because they don't know any other place that they feel safer," Balen said.

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"It's very scary and you don't know what's going to happen or what the long term affects are going to be, but we do our best," Porter ranch resident Laurie Cherny said.