Utility is criminally charged in methane gas leak that displaced thousands from homes
A California utility is facing criminal charges over a massive methane gas leak outside Los Angeles that has forced thousands from their homes since October.
The four misdemeanor counts filed Tuesday accuse Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. of failing to timely report the discharge of the air contaminant after an underground pipeline rupture. Bloomberg, Reuters and the San Diego Union-Tribune have stories.
“We will do everything we can as prosecutors to help ensure that the Aliso Canyon facility is brought into compliance,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey in a news release. “We believe we can best serve our community using the sanctions available through a criminal conviction to prevent similar public health threats in the future.”
Spokeswoman Kristine Lloyd told the Union-Tribune the utility only recently learned of the charges and is still reviewing the filing. “We have been working with regulatory agencies to mitigate the odors associated with the natural gas leak and to abate the gas leak as quickly as safety allows,” she said. “We will defend ourselves vigorously through the judicial process.”
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “California air quality agency sues over gas leak which has displaced thousands”
