California’s senators, Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, announced Friday they will introduce legislation in the U.S. Senate directing Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to lead a probe into the Porter Ranch gas leak.
They said in a statement that they will introduce an amendment to energy legislation now before the Senate next week. The amendment will direct Moniz “to lead a federal review of the cause and response to the crisis — including recommendations that could assist in solving the gas leak and preventing future incidents.”
The energy secretary’s brief will include “making recommendations on immediate steps that could assist in solving this gas leak and in preventing and responding to future incidents.”
Under the amendment, Moniz would lead a six-member intergovernmental task force in probing the Aliso Canyon gas leak — “including the impacts on surrounding communities and the environment.” Findings would have to be available within six months.
In addition to the Energy Department, the task force would include representatives from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Interior, the senators said.
“It has been very frustrating to watch this Aliso Canyon crisis unfold – almost in slow motion – without any clear remedy,” Boxer said.
“It is time to put our brightest minds to work to analyze and make recommendations that would not only assist in Aliso Canyon, but would also help us prevent and respond to similar incidents across the country.”
Feinstein noted that the leak has prompted the relocation of more than 3,000 families.
“We have a responsibility not only to address this leak, but also to ensure nothing like this ever happens again,” Feinstein said.
“This amendment, which directs the government to look at the cause of the leak and the response, will provide valuable lessons on how we can keep communities all around the country safe from similar situations.”
The amendment will direct the task force to issue recommendations on whether to continue operations at Aliso Canyon and other facilities near residences, based on an assessment of the risk of a future natural gas leak.
The leak at the Aliso Canyon facility was discovered Oct. 23. Since then, it is reported to have released more than 84 million kilograms of methane, which the senators’ statement described as the equivalent of 2.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, or more greenhouse gas than 440,000 cars emit in a year.
—City News Service