Awardwinning local news and cultural programming alongside the best of npr. The aliso canyon leak has spewed 80,000 metric tons of methane since october, displacing. He had coincidentally been contracted by the californi a energy commission prior to the ga s l eak, and said that if he had not been contracted and ready to go, no one would have known how big the leak was. A methane leak in southern california has forced thousands of people from their homes. Once the sheer size of the leak became apparent, a state response took off. The aliso canyon methane leak in california is bad, but its only a small portion of the methane leaked from the natural gas industrys sprawling pipeline and storage infrastructure. Until the aliso canyon gas leak, the industrys methane emissions had barely been on the radar of many california policymakers even though the oil and gas industry is the largest industrial source of methane pollution across the country. More than two months after a natural gas storage well in southern california began uncontrollably spewing methane gas, the governor of california has declared a state of emergency. Infrared video shows porter ranch leak spew 50,000 kilograms of methane per hour infrared video making visible the aliso canyon leak from southern california gas. Californias staggering leak could spew methane for. Las methane gas leak was one of the biggest environmental. The leak wouldnt be capped until february 18, 2016. One of the requirements of the new abatement order is that the. A scientist says it wont have a big effect globally.
Methane gas gushes from a ruptured well, disrupting lives of the residents and their children affected by the gas leak in porter ranch, california. Nearly 70,000 pounds of gas is being released every hour, state officials say, roughly a quarter of the methane emissions in california. California declares state of emergency over monthslong gas leak. A leaking natural gas well in southern california vented almost 100,000 tonnes of methane into the atmosphere before it was plugged. Jan 06, 2016 oconnor explains the health and environmental effects of methane emissions, the dangers of the gas leak relief plan, the southern california gas companys response to the leak, and how wells. Southern california gas company land near porter ranch, calif. Jan 20, 2016 stephen conley will take new measurements of the aliso canyon methane leak site in his heavilymodified singleengine airplane thursday afternoon and joins insight ahead of the flight to explain. The california naturalgas complex spewing massive amounts of methane into the air is just one of more than 400 such facilities across the u. The methane thats leaking probably isnt part of californias natural reserves. Feb 12, 2016 methane gas gushes from a ruptured well, disrupting lives of the residents and their children affected by the gas leak in porter ranch, california. Erin brockovich lends star power to legal fight over huge california methane leak.
The powerful greenhouse gas has been escaping for three months. Natural gas leak in california raises health, environmental. California leak was top methane release in us history. Jan 12, 2016 several proposed bills address the climate and health impacts of the methane leak in. How does the california methane leak make people sick. New information has surfaced about conditions surrounding the broken gas storage well releasing methane in southern california. Almost exactly two years ago, a well owned by the southern california gas company began dumping huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere. The results confirm that aliso canyon is the largest methane leak in u. You rely on npr for trustworthy reporting and analysis. Most of the methane that is used in southern california homes actually comes from somewhere else typically west texas or southern colorado. The twoway a month and a half after detecting the leak in its aliso canyon storage facility, southern california gas co.
The company that operates the storage facility where the leak happened says the leak could be capped as early as the end of the week. Some believe its the largest ever recorded and the company says it could take 4 months to stop. Thousands of californians are fleeing an enormous methane leak. The leak of natural gas observed by the southern california gas company in its facility in porter ranch on october 23, 2015, is now the largest natural gas leak ever recorded in california, and it might be the worst environmental disaster since bps deepwater horizon oil spill in 2010. It is transported to california via a massive network of interstate pipelines. California gas company promises action to capture some of. Why the gas leak in california no one is talking about is. Jan 14, 2016 the emergency regulations would require southern california gas co.
Estimating the environmental impact of southern california. No shortterm fix for california methane leak the new york. A scientist says it wont have a big effect globally, but its a setback in efforts to curb greenhouse gases. Methane leaks across us pose a much greater threat than aliso canyon. Dec 30, 2015 a methane leak in southern california has forced thousands of people from their homes. Dec 29, 2015 massive methane leak displaces thousands in southern california. California methane leak permanently sealed bbc news. Any gains that could be claimed, albeit questionably, from enforcement of this economycrushing rule have essentially been wiped out by a massive leak. The methane leak in california is being labelled a major catastrophe. Massive gas leak at porter ranch slows to a stop npr. You have permission to republish this article under a creative commons license with attribution to the author and. A massive methane leak may soon end, but its environmental impact is still being weighed.
Jan 10, 2016 this article 7 things you need to know about the california methane leak is free and open source. The breach has steadily sent 62 million cubic feet of methane gas into the air every day since october 23, according to an estimate from the environmental defense fund. California methane leak one of the worst environmental. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Thats roughly a quarter of the methane emissions in california. Huge california gas leak could take months to fix cbs news. Dairy farmers in california say antiflatulence law. Oconnor explains the health and environmental effects of methane emissions, the dangers of the gas leak relief plan, the southern california gas companys response to the leak, and how wells.
Membersupported public radio for southern california. It has drawn remarkably little attention outside the west coast, but a massive methane gas leak 25 miles northwe why the gas leak in california no one is talking about is such a disaster the. Infrared video of huge southern california methane leak makes. Estimating the environmental impact of southern californias great methane leak climate science. Estimating the environmental impact of southern californias. Infrared video of huge southern california methane leak. Massive methane leak displaces thousands in southern.
California gas leak was the worst manmade greenhousegas. California methane gas leak leads to sickness and lawsuits. The emergency regulations would require southern california gas co. Jan 07, 2016 more than two months after an natural gas storage well in southern california began uncontrollably spewing methane gas, the governor of california has declared a state of emergency. The arb said in a november estimate that the leak may have added as much as a quarter to california s methane emissions between. Local porter ranch gas leak increasing californias methane emissions by 25 percent the monthlong leak was first reported oct. Infrared video of huge southern california methane leak makes plume visible socal gas hits milestone in plugging gas leak, but completion will take months more. Leaking natural gas well in california is permanently sealed npr. California state of emergency over methane leak bbc news.
The statement from socal gas comes just days after the leak prompted california governor jerry brown to declare a state of emergency. The leak at the aliso canyon storage facility near porter ranch, first. California examines safety of gas wells amid methane leak new information has surfaced about conditions surrounding the broken gas storage well releasing methane in southern california. Several proposed bills address the climate and health impacts of the methane leak in. Californias methane gas leak environmental catastrophe. The goal of one of the most ponderous pieces of legislation ever to be generated in the golden state, the global warming solutions act, was to substantially reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The aliso canyon gas leak also called porter ranch gas leak and porter ranch gas blowout was a massive natural gas leak that was discovered by socalgas employees on october 23, 2015. Stepping up in california securing emission standards. Natural gas leak in california raises health, environmental concerns. Yet the analysis shows that the methane flow from one damaged wellhead more than doubled the.
Once the leak is stopped we will be able to evaluate what caused the leak and we will be able to evaluate how much natural gas. Oct 17, 2017 almost exactly two years ago, a well owned by the southern california gas company began dumping huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere. Nov 23, 2015 local porter ranch gas leak increasing california s methane emissions by 25 percent the monthlong leak was first reported oct. Meanwhile, the leak, first reported on october 23, has emitted enough methane gas to dislocate around 4,500 families in the northwest san fernando valley at the expense of socal gas while triggering a state of emergency declaration by california governor jerry brown. No matter what, we will be here, reporting the news, providing context and keeping you. The well, one of more than 100 at the aliso canyon reservoir, was. Conley began conducting regular flights over the town of porter ranch, tracking methane concentrations in. Stephen conley scientific aviation and uc davis, guido franco california energy commission, ian faloona uc davis, don blake uc irvine, jeff peischl university of colorado cires and noaa and tom ryerson noaa. A month and a half after detecting the leak in its aliso canyon storage facility, southern california gas co. California declares state of emergency over monthslong. California gas leak was the worst manmade greenhousegas disaster in u. Californias staggering leak could spew methane for months. Southern california gas company says the leak poses no longterm risks to human health.
M ethane emissions from the aliso can yon ga s leak were detected by the tccon site at caltech within a day of the sta rt of the leak, but. More than two months after an natural gas storage well in southern california began uncontrollably spewing methane gas, the governor of california has. It could be months before the gas leak that has forced thousands from their homes in southern california is stopped. Most of the leaking gas is the greenhouse gas methane, which is harmful to the environment. County health officials said wednesday they dont believe there will be any longterm effects from the methane gas leak in. Dec 15, 2015 natural gas leak in california raises health, environmental concerns. Feb 25, 2016 california gas leak was the worst manmade greenhousegas disaster in u. Gas company understated benzene exposure from california. California declares state of emergency over months. Thousands of californians are fleeing an enormous methane. A new state law aims to reduce methane from cows, but the cattle industry thinks the regulation stinks. At its peak, the leak had emissions with a global warming potential equivalent to. Massive methane leak displaces thousands in southern california. Will california gas leak mark a turning point in energy.
The arb said in a november estimate that the leak may have added as much as a quarter to californias methane emissions between. Although the gas first began spewing from a leaky underground well in october, the gas company only recently. No shortterm fix for california methane leak the new. A new study shows the monthslong disaster resulted in 97,100. Jason marshall is chief deputy director of the california. Media caption the happygolucky community turned into a ghost town.
Home news lawsuit news california methane gas leak leads to sickness and lawsuits california methane gas leak leads to sickness and lawsuits. Jan 08, 2016 no shortterm fix for california methane leak. Experts estimate there are thousands of methane leaks across the u. The aliso canyon natural gas well blowout, first reported on oct. California methane leak largest in us history bbc news. These methane leaks are often accompanied by other harmful pollutants. Methane leak in california a major catastrophe cbc news. California methane leak impact zone doubles in size cbs news. Happy cows may come from california, but their farts could be overheating the atmosphere.
Methane progress in california environmental defense fund. California natural gas leak just one of thousands across. Jan 11, 2016 california gas company promises action to capture some of leaking methane. California examines safety of gas wells amid methane leak. At its peak, the leak had emissions with a global warming potential equivalent to the daily co2. Jan 21, 2016 california examines safety of gas wells amid methane leak new information has surfaced about conditions surrounding the broken gas storage well releasing methane in southern california. Spokesman stanley young told the bbc this meant that during the leak california s entire emissions of methane rose by roughly 20%, pushing up the states total annual methane emissions by around 6%. A scientist says it wont have a big effect globally, but its.
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