Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich introduced a motion to send a five-signature letter to the Public Utilities Commission advocating for the continued prohibition of natural gas injection into the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility.

The Gas Company announced today its intention to begin to reinject gas into the same existing facility which caused the largest gas leak in the nation’s history impacting thousands of families in local neighborhoods.

“It is vital that the Public Utilities Commission utilize Sen. Pavley’s legislation to ensure that the facility is safe and needed before any future gas injection is considered,” said Antonovich.  “The natural gas blow out on October 23, 2015 displaced thousands of families, released unprecedented amounts of methane into the atmosphere, and cost over a billion dollars to mitigate damages, compensate those impacted, and repair the leak.”

SB 380 (Pavley) requires the PUC to open a proceeding to determine the feasibility of minimizing or eliminating use of the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility no later than July 1, 2017.  The Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources is overseeing the safety requirements as prescribed by SB 380.

Copies of the 5-signature letter will be sent to Gov. Brown and the county’s legislative delegation.

SoCalGas Requests Regulatory Approval to Replenish Natural Gas Supply at Aliso Canyon Storage Facility

[SoCalGas, Nov. 1] –  Southern California Gas Co. today requested regulatory approval to resume injection operations through approved wells at its Aliso Canyon storage facility. In support of this request, SoCalGas submitted a detailed status report on all 114 wells at the facility addressing the requirements of the California state-mandated Comprehensive Safety Review and provided additional information requested by state agencies, including a risk management plan for the facility.

“Over the last year we have made extensive physical upgrades and deployed advanced technologies to enhance safety at Aliso Canyon,” said SoCalGas President and Chief Operating Officer, Bret Lane. “These enhancements will further strengthen the facility’s infrastructure, introduce real-time pressure monitoring, and enable improved communications with stakeholders. As we move forward, we remain committed to a continuous improvement process.”

Examples of infrastructure and technology enhancements include the installation of:

* New inner metal tubing of every well approved for injection – in total more than 40 miles of new steel piping;

* Around-the-clock pressure monitoring of all wells in a 24-hour operations center;

* An infrared fence-line methane detection system.

The Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources and the California Public Utilities Commission are responsible for confirming that the conditions to resume injection operations at Aliso Canyon have been met.

About Southern California Gas Co:

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 145 years. It is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 21.6 million consumers connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.