California Attorney General Sues SoCalGas Over Porter Ranch Leak

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Attorney General Kamala Harris has filed a lawsuit alleging Southern California Gas Co. violated state health and safety laws by failing to control the Porter Ranch gas leak and report it to proper authorities.

According to the lawsuit, the leak at the Aliso Canyon storage facility has spewed 80,000 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere, threatening state efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Harris' lawsuit comes after the city and county of Los Angeles have already filed suit against SoCal Gas over the leak, which was discovered Oct. 23.

"The impact of this unprecedented gas leak is devastating to families in our state, our environment and our efforts to combat global warming," Harris said. "Southern California Gas Co. must be held accountable."

In a statement, SoCal Gas spokesperson Stephanie Donovan said: "We are working hard to both stop the leak and to address our neighbors' concerns. We don't have any additional information to share at this time and will respond to the lawsuit through the judicial process."

Efforts to drill a relief well - which would allow the company to pump material into the pipe to seal the leak - are currently underway, but Gas Co. officials say it isn't expected to be completed before late February at the earliest.

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