After months of being out of their homes because of a leaking natural gas storage well on the outskirts of Los Angeles, residents have returned home and the well was permanently sealed and shut down on Friday, California officials said.
Southern California Gas Co., owner of the well said that the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources confirmed the well was sealed for good. It had been leaking since late October and was only brought under control last week. The well had released more than 5 billion cubic feet of natural gas but now will be taken out of service and never used again as ordered by California regulators.
But that hasn’t necessarily appeased nearby residents in the Porter Ranch community because other wells at the Aliso Canyon storage operation will continue to be used. The homeowners want the entire facility to be shut down. They still contend there’s not enough research to support the claim that the leak was no long-term threat to human health.
Thousands who returned to their homes are no longer receiving relocation support from the gas utility.
