The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion Tuesday by Supervisor Kathryn Barger to send a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom in support of a proposed expedited closure of the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Facility, officials said. 

This action includes immediate direction to the California Public Utilities Commission and the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources to accelerate a permanent closure plan.

“With today’s motion, the county continues to fight for the communities impacted by the Aliso Canyon gas leak,” Barger said. “It has become clear that the only way to ensure this community’s protection is to call on our state leaders to expeditiously and safely close the Aliso Canyon well.”

The blowout and subsequent leak at Aliso Canyon in 2015 was the largest release of natural gas in American history, which caused the relocation of thousands of residents, students and vulnerable populations. As a result of the leak, 97,000 metric tons of methane and 7,300 metric tons of ethane were released into the atmosphere, according to the County. 

Since the leak, the County of Los Angeles has fought for enhanced safety regulations and oversight at all natural gas storage facilities.

See Related: Christy Smith, Henry Stern Commend Governor’s Call For Expedited Shutdown Of Aliso Canyon

L.A. County partnered with the State of California and the City of Los Angeles on a $119 million legal settlement with the Southern California Gas Company that will provide for a health effects study in the North San Fernando Valley, according to officials 

Barger has secured open space adjacent to the facility to help prevent further encroachment and pushed for a comprehensive root cause analysis, which found major faults with the Gas Company and the regulators who oversee the facility.

This move joins the support of Senator Henry Stern and Assemblywoman Christy Smith for the expedited shutdown of Aliso Canyon.

“A truly independent analysis that determines how to close Aliso for good, refusing to falsely pit the interests and safety of Porter Ranch against the rest of Southern California, is exactly what we need,” reads the joint statement from Smith and Stern. “Governor Newsom has made promises to our community and he is stepping up to fulfill them. For that, we commend him and look forward to continuing this partnership.”

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