LA county seeks stop to Aliso Canyon reopening

Los Angeles county, California, has filed a temporary restraining order request to block the reopening of the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage field until further analysis at the site has been completed.

In a filing in the Los Angeles Superior Court, lawyers for the county said tDepartment of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) had not satisfied the necessary conditions to show the safety of the facility, and that its approval of injections violated its duties under California law.

Last week, California state inspectors announced that the Aliso Canyon facility was safe to operate, allowing SoCal Gas to resume operations at a reduced capacity. Inspections of the site were conducted by DOGGR.

In October 2015 a leak was discovered at the Aliso Canyon facility, which released approximately 4.6 Bcf (130mn m³) over a period of four months. The leak was successfully sealed in February 2016.

Los Angeles county argued that before the prohibition on gas injections can be lifted, SoCal Gas must show, and DOGGR must determine, that all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Aliso Canyon have been completed.

This includes the completion of a full health and safety review, and the development of a risk management plan that properly addresses the seismic risk at Aliso Canyon.

In the filing Los Angeles county notes that experts acknowledge the substantial likelihood of a significant earthquake along the Santa Susanna fault, which crosses all of the gas wells at the facility, within the next 50 years.

Los Angeles county also requested the facility remain shut until DOGGR completes an environmental impact study, which it says is required under the the California Environmental Protection Act (CEQA).

On 20 July, Los Angeles county asked SoCal Gas to refrain from beginning injections at Aliso Canyon until the Court ruled on the request. According to the filing, SoCal Gas refused the request and also refused to disclose when it would begin injecting gas at the facility, but indicated that injections were imminent.

A court hearing is scheduled for 28 July.