The Southern California Gas Company has stated that the nearly four-month long gas leak, plaguing Los Angeles County, has been capped. The gas leak, which contained mostly methane, is the worst environmental disaster in California’s history. Initially, the utility company stated that the leak would not be capped until March.
Several thousand families have been displaced as a result of the leak and many suffered short-term illnesses related to an additive in the gas, mercaptan. The utility company is currently facing over 60 lawsuits. The leak began in October 2015 and the county as been under a State of Emergency since December 2015. Many environmentalists consider this gas leak to be the worse than the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill which killed 11 people and devastated large portions of the Gulf Coast.
The Los Angeles Times reported that residents have already noticed the absence of the odor caused by mercaptan, but that capping the leak is only aspect of the disaster. Five thousand families are still displaced, property values have dropped and residents are still concerned. Some residents, according to the Los Angeles Times, are concerned that the odors from the gas and chemicals released by the leak might still be trapped in their homes.
The leak has released over two million tons of methane.
After several unsuccessful attempts to plug the leak, Southern California Gas Co. had to drill a second well to reroute the gas, according to CBS News. Despite the company’s assurances to the public that their health issues are not permanent, many remain unconvinced. The leak has released over two million tons of methane. Methane is a greenhouse gas worse than carbon dioxide (CO2) because it traps more heat in the atmosphere. Residents are still waiting to hear that their communities are safe. The well has not been declared “dead” yet, meaning that its containment is still unofficial.
