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SoCalGas Conducts 'Controlled Release' Of Natural Gas In West LA

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Smell something funny in the West Los Angeles area? The Southern California Gas Company says to not be alarmed.

Crews were working on a pipeline project, which started about 9 p.m. Thursday and ended at about midnight, at which time they briefly conducted a controlled release of natural gas, SoCal Gas spokeswoman Rosa Maria Santana said.

The controlled release of natural gas stopped at 11:30 p.m. Thursday, and natural gas was expected to dissipate in the air early Friday.

SoCalGas crews had replaced a supply pipeline and were in process of putting the new pipeline into service and notified the Los Angeles County Fire Department of their work, Santana said.

The natural gas is non-toxic and lighter than air, so escaping gas will rise and dissipate safely, she said. The non-toxic odor is added to the odorless natural gas as a safety precaution.

(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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