Boxer, Feinstein to introduce amendment for federal review of Aliso Canyon gas leak

U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) recently announced that they will introduce an amendment to energy legislation under Senate review that would require federal review and recommendations of the natural gas lead at Aliso Canyon in their home state.

“What’s happening at Aliso Canyon is a very serious event, forcing the relocation of more than 3,000 families. We have a responsibility not only to address this leak, but also to ensure nothing like this ever happens again,” Feinstein said. “This amendment, which directs the government to look at the cause of the leak and the response, will provide valuable lessons on how we can keep communities all around the country safe from similar situations.”

The leak, at Southern California Gas Co.’s storage facility in Aliso Canyon, has released 84 million kilograms of methane into the environment. The senators’ amendment would create an intergovernmental task force, lead by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, which would evaluate the cause and response to the leak and make recommendations for solving it and preventing similar leaks in the future.

“It has been very frustrating to watch this Aliso Canyon crisis unfold — almost in slow motion — without any clear remedy,” Boxer said. “It is time to put our brightest minds to work to analyze and make recommendations that would not only assist in Aliso Canyon, but would also help us prevent and respond to similar incidents across the country.”