The largest methane gas leak in California history began more than three months ago and has driven residents with nosebleeds, vomiting, rashes, and dizziness out of 5,000 homes. Shouldn't we know why, how and who caused the mess by now?
We say yes, and more than a thousand Californians agree as they have joined with Consumer Watchdog to demand that the California Public Utilities Commission have an open and transparent investigation into the Porter Ranch natural gas blowout.
Despite 11 investigations and lawsuits started by state and local regulators and prosecutors, the public still doesn’t have any real idea what’s going on in Porter Ranch. That’s because Governor Brown issued an emergency order last month to lock residents and the public out of all proceedings until the findings are complete.
So we don’t even know, for example, if independent testing of the air has been done over the wellhead. That’s pretty important, since the Associated Press found Southern California Gas understated emissions of carcinogenic benzene from Aliso’s 1950s-era oil well.
When PUC investigations happen in secret, the utilities win and the public pays. After the San Bruno pipeline explosion, Pacific Gas & Electric was never held accountable for diverting ten million dollars in ratepayer money that was supposed to fix the pipes before the disaster occurred. The public has the right to be involved every step of the way.
