SoCalGas to be arraigned on criminal charges in Porter Ranch gas leak

Southe Califoia Gas Company representatives are expected to appear in a Santa Clarita courtroom today as the company is set to be arraigned on criminal charges involving the nearly four-month-long gas leak near Porter Ranch.

Los Angeles County District Attoey Jackie Lacey filed criminal charges earlier this month against the gas company. The misdemeanor charges are three counts of failure to report release of hazardous materials to various agencies and one count of discharge of air contaminants since the leak was discovered on Oct. 23.

“We will do everything we can as prosecutors to help ensure that the Aliso Canyon facility is brought into compliance,” Lacey said in a statement released when the charges were filed on Feb. 2. “I believe we can best serve our community using the sanctions available through a criminal conviction to prevent similar public health threats in the future.”

The gas company could be fined up to $25,000 each day it failed to notify the Califoia Office of Emergency Services of the leak and up to $1,000 a day for air pollution violations, according to the D.A.’s office.

L.A. County Fire Chief Daryl Osby has said he was notified of the leak on Oct. 26, three days after it was discovered by the gas company.

SoCal Gas officials aounced last week that it had halted the flow of gas from the leaking well. Since then, state officials have been working to determine whether the well has been permanently sealed with cement. It is expected that state officials will aounce the leak has been sealed within days.

The leak caused many Porter Ranch area residents to be sickened, reporting symptoms of headaches, nosebleeds and nausea associated with gas odorants.

Residents from about 6,000 households opted to leave their homes at the expense of the gas company until the well is sealed.

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