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An overhead view of the site where gas is leaking near Porter Ranch. SoCalGas says it is… more
Southern California Gas Co. says it is expanding the relocation package it is offering to residents who have been affected by the natural gas leak at its Aliso Canyon storage facility.
In addition to offering reimbursements to residents who want to temporarily move from the homes while SoCal Gas works to repair the leak, the company said it has increased and simplified the relocation package, expanded its community resource center and updated its website as part of efforts to “demonstrate our commitment to supporting our neighbors during this unfortunate situation.”
An overhead view of the site where gas is leaking near Porter Ranch. SoCalGas says it is… more
“As we continue our relentless focus on stopping the leak, we are always looking for ways to mitigate the impact on our community,” said Gillian Wright, SoCalGas vice president of customer services.
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Effective Jan. 2, SoCalGas said it has eliminated the requirement for eligible temporarily relocated residents to submit receipts for reimbursement of food-related expenses. In addition, the company has increased and simplified the daily meal reimbursement amount to $45 per day per person, regardless of age.
The relocation package provided by SoCalGas consists of a monthly housing allowance, payment for meals at a rate of $45 a day per person for those staying in hotels without a full kitchen, and mileage reimbursement for extra mileage incurred in commuting to work or transporting children to school.
SoCalGas said it is evaluating a variety of ways to streamline its reimbursement process, including a pre-paid spending card, and expects to announce further details within the next seven days.
Meanwhile, the company has set up a a new dedicated toll-free relocation call center, at 877-238-9555, for Porter Ranch residents seeking relocation information, which will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It also expanded its Community Resource Center to an adjacent storefront next to its location in the Porter Ranch Town Center and increased staff at the center to more efficiently handle claims, relocation requests and home air purification requests.
For residents remaining in Porter Ranch, SoCalGas is providing free plug-in air purifiers that contain activated carbon to help remove the natural gas odor from homes. Alternatively, the company also can provide free whole-house air purification through a licensed heating ventilation and air conditioning contractor, who can replace the standard air filters in residents’ HVAC systems with a specially designed activated carbon filter.
SoCalGas also said it has improved its dedicated website AlisoUpdates.com to make it easier to navigate.
SoCalGas, which is a unit of San Diego-based Sempra Energy(NYSE: SRE) discovered a natural gas leak on Oct. 23, believed to be caused by a broken injection-well pipe several hundred feet beneath the surface of the utility’s Aliso Canyon gas storage facility.
Since the leak’s discovery, foul smelling vapors have prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents in the San Fernando Valley community of Porter Ranch. Many residents say the fumes have caused symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. SoCal Gas says the leak doesn’t pose an immediate public safety threat but has offered to reimburse families for their relocations and has already placed more than 2,200 families in temporary housing.
The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that attorneys for residents suing SoCal Gas say the company failed to replace a safety valve that was removed in 1979. The valve may not have prevented the leak, but could have stopped the continued release of fumes into the community, attorney Brian Panish told the Times.
A SoCal Gas spokeswoman confirmed the well didn’t have a deep subsurface valve but added that it was not required by law.
SoCal Gas estimates it won’t be able to fix the well and plug the leak until late February or March.
SoCal Gas expands relocation package for residents affected by gas leak
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