Los Angeles prosecutors have filed misdemeanor criminal charges against a utility for failing to immediately report a massive gas leak in October.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said Tuesday that Southern California Gas Co. needs to be held accountable for the leak that has been out of control nearly 15 weeks at its Aliso Canyon storage facility in Los Angeles County. The leak has been emitting 4.5 million cars' worth of pollution every day and residents in the Porter Ranch neighborhood have reported nose bleeds and headaches. Thousands have left their homes behind due to the health effects.
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The criminal complaint charges the company with four misdemeanor counts. If convicted, the company could be fined up to $25,000 for each of the three days it didn't notify the state Office of Emergency Services of the leak.
Lacey says the company also could be fined up to $1,000 per day for air pollution violations.
The company is facing more than two dozen lawsuits over the leak that has spewed more than 2 million tons of climate-changing methane.
"While we recognize that neither the criminal charges nor the civil lawsuits will offer the residents of Los Angeles County a complete solution, it is important that Southern California Gas Co. be held responsible for its criminal actions," Lacey said in a statement announcing the charges.
"We will do everything we can as prosecutors to help ensure that the Aliso Canyon facility is brought into compliance. I believe we can best serve our community using the sanctions available through a criminal conviction to prevent similar public health threats in the future."
SoCalGas says it discovered the leak Oct. 23 at its Aliso Canyon storage facility.
The gas leak prompted both local and state officials to declare a state of emergency.
The company didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. It has previously cited a policy of not commenting on litigation.
Additional reporting by Mashable.