Porter Ranch residents angry over failure to shut down gas leak facility

PORTER RANCH, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Many Porter Ranch residents were angry after the South Coast Air Quality Management District hearing board voted 4-1 to approve a nuisance abatement order to Southern California Gas Company for its months-long gas leak at a storage facility near the city but stopped short of shutting it down.

Concerned residents stormed out of the meeting after the announcement on Saturday as many have said the gas leak at the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility has made them sick.

"Total frustration and anger. The AQMD could have used their full authority to shut this facility down, at least temporarily, and they refused to do that...Our rally cry was very clear. We don't feel safe in our community. We don't feel safe going back to our homes as long as this facility stays open," said resident Alexandra Nagy.

The order will require SoCal Gas to fund an independent health study to assess effects to residents and develop an enhanced leak-detection system for all wells at the facility.

The order will also force the SoCal Gas Company to report all odor complaints made to it since the leak that started on Oct. 23. It will also stop any further injection of natural gas into the storage facility while maximizing withdrawals.

Socal Gas said they should have the gas leak sealed off no later than late February.