PORTER RANCH - Amid one of the biggest natural gas leaks in U.S. history, Southern California Gas Co. has committed to shutting down 18 more aging wells at the Aliso Canyon storage facility near Porter Ranch besides the leaking well, according to Rep. Brad Sherman.

However, state officials indicated Wednesday that the move could be temporary.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s office notified Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, of SoCalGas’ commitment to permanently seal the wells that are of a similar age and characteristic to the leaking well, which was drilled in 1953, Sherman said. The congressman made the announcement Tuesday night during a telephone town hall with Valley residents. Sherman was told by Brown’s office that the process is expected to take three to four weeks.

“SoCalGas is now committed to capping, sealing and killing the 18 other 1950s (era) vintage wells that are up there,” Sherman said Wednesday in an interview. “It’s a first step toward either closing the whole facility down, or making the facility safe. It’s a first step toward either of those two outcomes.”

But in a written statement, the California Department of Conservation said the Gas Co. has identified 18 wells “it will temporary plug with completion fluid by setting tubing plugs.”

“Further actions on these and other wells in this facility will be determined after a comprehensive well by well review by the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources has been completed,” Don Drysdale, of the state’s Department of Conservation, said.

SoCalGas did not have an immediate comment on Wednesday.

Last week, a South Coast Air Quality Management District panel ordered the leaking well to be permanently shut down last week. Ninety-six other wells at the site will not be affected by the decision, Sherman said.

Paula Cracium, president of the Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council, said permanently shutting down the 1950s-era wells would go a long way to helping the community heal.

“Porter Ranch has been so injured by this,” she said. “There’s going to be a version of post-traumatic stress when people are moving back into their homes with the older wells running. If you eliminate the risk, it will help them feel more comfortable (and) safe for the kids to play in their neighborhood.”

But Matt Pakucko, president of the community activist group Save Porter Ranch that has sued the Gas Co., was not comforted.

“If those wells are indeed the problem, why wouldn’t they have shut them down long ago before this?” he said. “It’s another example of their profits are more important than safety.”

Just days after the South Coast Air Quality Management District ordered the Southern California Gas Go. to control a colossal natural gas leak in the hills above Porter Ranch, the air regulator sued the utility late Tuesday, seeking what could be a record penalty that could run into the tens of millions.

The gas leak atop Oat Mountain has persisted since late October, forcing thousands of residents to be relocated and still others to complain of illness.

“It’s a complaint for civil penalties for creating a public nuisance for the gas leak near Porter Ranch,” said Kurt Wiese, general counsel for the air district based in Diamond Bar, who has worked for the agency for more than two decades. “It’s certainly the most significant public nuisance I’ve seen in my career.”

The latest lawsuit adds to the more than 25 that have been filed against the company owned by Sempra Energy of San Diego regarding its ongoing gas leak.

Nearly 3,000 households, containing an estimated 9,000 residents, have been relocated along with two elementary schools at gas company expense, with nearly 2,000 households on a waiting list. (Source: Los Angeles Daily News)

Story Date: January 28, 2016