From: NRDC
Published January 12, 2016 06:28 PM
The Porter Ranch gas leak update
Senators Kevin de León and Fran Pavley announced a package of new
legislation that builds on Gov. Brown’s state of emergency declaration
to ensure protections for Californians impacted by the natural gas leak
in Porter Ranch.
The new legislation will require:
- a moratorium on new injections into the Aliso Canyon storage
facility until experts determine it is safe to resume and a study to
see whether it makes sense to continue using the facility. (SB 875)
- that response costs – such as greenhouse gas mitigation,
relocation, and emergency response costs – will be funded by the Gas
Company shareholders, not the ratepayers who are suffering from this
disaster. (SB 876)
- stronger laws regulating gas storage facilities, including
increased inspections and health and safety measures. (SB 877)
- setting state climate pollution reduction targets and holding
polluters accountable for meeting those targets. (SB 878)
Following is a statement by Damon
Nagami, director of NRDC’s Southern California
Ecosystems Project:
“We don’t have a moment to lose when it comes to addressing the ugly
mess that’s happening in Porter Ranch. Californians need strong,
immediate state action and today’s announcement by Senators de León and
Pavley to keep the Aliso Canyon facility shut down until it’s safe is
the show of leadership our communities need.
“Locally, these measures will help to keep the community safe.
Statewide, regulation of all gas storage facilities will be strengthened
and we'll see significant reductions in short-lived climate pollutants
such as methane and black carbon.”
Image credit EDF.
Read more at NRDC.
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