This morning, community members reported hearing a loud noise and strong smell of gas coming from the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility – the site of the largest gas blowout in US history just over a decade ago. 

Patty Glueck, Aliso Moms Alliance, said, “​​SoCalGas continues to demonstrate that it can’t operate a safe facility. From the December 27th pipeline rupture in Castaic to today’s infrastructure problem that caused methane, mercaptans, and a hazardous toxic soup of carcinogens and other chemicals into our environment, those who live near this facility have good reason to want it closed down. Not only is it a fire and safety risk, the current UCLA health study being conducted is proving it has harmed countless numbers of residents. In addition, the gas company doesn’t notify the community when it has caused a problem.”

Matt Pakucko, President and Co-Founder, Save Porter Ranch, said, “A decade ago, we warned our leaders. They documented the warning, but they ignored it. The system degraded exactly as predicted. Then the site detonated. People died exactly as expected. Officials said that “no one could have known,” but the records say otherwise. That is exactly where we are with SoCalGas’s Aliso Canyon storage disaster…waiting. Today was the warning.”

Andrea Vega, Los Angeles Organizing Manager, Food & Water Watch, said, “As Governor Newsom and his appointees at the CPUC bury their heads in the sand, this facility continues to put those who live near it at serious health risk. Governor Newsom claimed Aliso Canyon was safe when his CPUC approved yet another expansion of the facility last year, despite outcry from those impacted. But this morning’s incident once again demonstrates the danger Aliso Canyon poses to communities still reeling from the 2015 blowout. This facility must be shut down once and for all.”

The CPUC is expected to review whether to reduce or maintain the same storage capacity at Aliso Canyon later this year following the release of the CPUC Energy Division’s Aliso Canyon Biennial Assessment Report which recommends a 10 Bcf reduction in storage capacity at Aliso Canyon.