Boxer and Feinstein request federal aid to stop Aliso Canyon natural gas leak

U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) recently wrote to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting assistance in addressing a natural gas leak in their home state.

"On October 23 , 2015, a natural gas leak was discovered at the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility in Los Angeles County, California. Since then, approximately 80,000 metric tons of methane have been released in the ongoing, uncontrolled leak,” the letter stated. “Multiple efforts to stop the leak by the Southern California Gas Company, which owns the storage facility, have not been successful.”

While the company is currently working to stop the leak with a relief well, that effort is likely to take weeks to complete, while the surrounding community is suffering symptoms such as respiratory problems, headaches, nausea and nosebleeds, the senators noted in the letter.

“In response to the ongoing disaster and the continued impacts on the local community, last week the Governor of California declared a State of Emergency and mobilized numerous state agencies to assist in the response effort,” the letter said. “We believe that it is critical that the federal government also play an active role, in cooperation with its partner agencies in the State of California, to stop this ongoing leak and address the impacts to local residents.”