Gov. Brown Declares Emergency in SoCal Gas Leak Near Porter Ranch

[Purveyor]

Source: LA TIMES

Gov. Jerry Brown declared an emergency Wednesday in Porter Ranch, where thousands of residents have been evacuated due to a massive gas leak.

In declaring the emergency, Brown noted the widespread disruption the gas leak has caused and reiterated the state’s efforts to help fix the problem.

Under the order, “all state agencies will utilize state personnel, equipment, and facilities to ensure a continuous and thorough state response to this incident,” according to a statement released by the governor.

Brown met with residents on Monday and expressed concern about the health of people in Porter Ranch and demonstrated that he has been working on the problem, contrary to the complaints of some residents who say he has not been actively involved, said two of the four people who attended the meeting Monday.

Read more: http://ktla.com/2016/01/06/gov-brown-declares-emergency-in-socal-gas-leak-near-porter-ranch/

[Proserpina]

1. Hasn't this well been leaking for a month, or more?

Pretty slow emergency

[mike_c]

2. not so much a slow emergency as a lengthy one....

It's evidently projected to take several months to stem the gusher of methane emerging from that facility. And it's in close proximity to a large urban population.

[Gumboot]

3. I'll admit I know zip about gas wells, but...

... why has this methane gusher not been capped or flared off already?

Is there an enginering reason that prevents this from happening?

[Peace Patriot]

4. Well has been spewing methane into the air for TWO MONTHS, and...

...because the gas corporation (SoCalGas) REMOVED the safety valve (rather than replace it, when it wore out), they need to drill a relief well to stop this disastrous leak, and they've been very slow to do it.

What is worse, according to this excellent, in-depth article in L.A. Weekly, there are many more wells that could blow:

....SoCalGas seems to have been unprepared for a leak of this magnitude. That's especially troubling because SS-25 is far from unique. Many other wells are just as old, or older, and according to SoCalGas they also lack sub-surface safety valves. If one of them were to crack, this disaster could easily happen again.
(my emphasis)
http://www.laweekly.com/news/what-went-wrong-at-porter-ranch-6405804

See my comments here (#5):
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017319405#post5

Corporate Democrats as well as Corporate Republicans running the show is why this happened. Deregulation!

And why this, and many other disasters, have happened and will continue to happen, until the greedy few have totally trashed planet Earth--unless the rest of us raise our sites to a true democracy and enact the changes that we all know are vitally necessary for human life, and all life, to continue here.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

5. Another reason to vote for Bernie.