Roundup: Southern California gas leak officially capped

The gas leak at Southern California Gas Co.'s Aliso Canyon storage facility near Porter Ranch was officially declared capped on Thursday, and residents living in temporary housing will start to return to their homes.

The Gas Co. announced last Thursday that a relief well more than 8,600 feet long had intercepted the leaking well and crews began pumping heavy fluids to control the flow of gas.

The company then began injecting cement into the leaking well to permanently seal it. The state Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) then worked to confirm that the flow of gas has stopped. Officials said Thursday that the final tests on the integrity of the cement cap were completed late Wednesday.

"Southern California Gas, they must now do a full inspection and testing of all of the wells at Aliso before injection can resume," said Jason Marshall, chief deputy director of DOGGR. "Those inspections are going to have to meet new and higher standards."

Marshall said the California Air Resources Board and South Coast Air Quality Management District have also confirmed that the flow of natural gas had stopped, and air quality in the area has returned to normal levels.

With the leak formally capped, residents who were relocated from their homes due to the leak will have eight days to move back. People living in temporary housing with extended leases will have until those leases run out to return home.

As of last week, people from 4,645 households were living in temporary housing at the expense of Gas Co.. The company said it also has installed 5,467 air scrubbers at Porter Ranch-area homes and performed "weatherization" work on 5,410 homes around the leaking area.

Dennis V. Arriola, chairman and president of SoCalGas, said Thursdays that the company is already in the process of inspecting other wells at Aliso Canyon.

"While the leak has been stopped and the well permanently sealed, we have much work to do, partnering with state and local agencies to help the local community and impacted residents return to normal," he said. "We've already started inspecting all of the other wells at Aliso Canyon and will work closely with DOGGR to verify that the wells can be operated safely in the future."

The leak was first detected on Oct. 23, 2015, and has led to a series of lawsuits against the Gas Co., along with criminal charges filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, which alleges the company failed to immediately report the leak to state officials.

Two Los Angeles Unified School District campuses were also abandoned during the leak, with classes moved to alternate locations for the rest of the school year.

Superintendent Michelle King of the Los Angeles Unified School District said Thursday that the district will begin making arrangements for the students' return now that the leak has been capped.

"This will allow us to start planning for the return of students and staff to their home campuses at Porter Ranch Community School and Castlebay Lane Charter," King said.

"Our students continue to attend classes in their satellite campuses, where we have created a positive environment to support the teaching and learning experience. The safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority," King added. Enditem