Protesters March To Block SoCalGas From Reopening Aliso Canyon Facility

PORTER RANCH (CBSLA.com) — Dozens of protesters lined the streets of Porter Ranch, making sure Gov. Jerry Brown got the message.

People here feel betrayed, saying they feel Gov. Jerry Brown has failed them by allowing SoCalGas to begin pumping gas again into the Aliso Canyon storage facility.

On Monday, SoCalGas posted its plan on its website saying state regulators have cleared the way for its use and promises to submit a risk management plan: A well inspection and leak detection protocol and fitness for service analysis before resuming service it says to avoid energy shortages.

"They shoot haz waste all over you, they don't care!" a protester yelled.

But protesters also say they are marching in support of LA County officials who filed a request for a restraining order and injunction Monday, to try to block SoCalGas from reopening the controversial facility, arguing there's been no seismic testing, safety valve testing or a developed emergency response. The lawsuit says:

"There is no immediate or urgent need for gas from this field, and if an earthquake occurs as predicted, the tens of thousands of people adjacent to the field, and the County, would suffer catastrophic injury."

"Stop this! And go after what really does work. Solar, wind, so many things that are better than this," a protester said.

The Aliso Canyon storage facility has been largely out of use since the four-month leak spewed about 109,000 metric tons of methane into the air and led to the temporary relocation of about 7,000 people from the Porter Ranch area.