ALISO TIMELINE 2016 March through
2016
3/3 Meeting #10 of the PRCAC Katherine Butler and Carrie Taylour, PH, Carlos Torres, Deputy Dir., Office of Environmental
Health and Safety, Andy Carasco and Darryl Johnson, SCG; Public Health update on health study, air monitoring,
residents with symptoms should ask their doctors to call Rangan; schools (note that Dr. Rangan referred some callers
to Dr. McDaniel, according to residents)
3/3 DPH sent letter to BOS that mentioned that on 12/17/15 residents started reporting oily spots on “cars, patio furniture and
other surfaces in their yards.” Testing on these spots showed they were crude oil.
3/4 SPR rally
3/8 PH Health Update: Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Leak Resolution and Follow-up by Dr. Rangan was sent to health providers
in the area: don't provide your patients with toxicology tests
claimed not to find any. PH claims the oily spots “generally” won’t pose a health hazard, but recommended residents
don’t try to clean the play equipment themselves. In an interview, SCG spokesman Mike Mizrahi said, “It’s actually many,
many, many, many times less harmful than touching gasoline.”
3/9 SCG ordered to clean oily resdues at parks
3/10-12 Door to door CASPER study; some of the PH staff conducting the survey became ill while in the area dates from the
May 13, 2016 report) (note: many of the most affected by the emissions were still relocated and didn’t take part in this
assessment)
3/14 PR CAC phone meeting, Guest Speakers: Susan Trigueros, SCG, Sam Williams, Geosyntec; topic was air testing
3/17 Meeting #11 of PRCAC: Mandy Bane, PH, Gillian Wright and Susan Trigueros, SCG; SCG will continue the community
resource center; why are residents still smelling odors, fire prevention, cleaning of residue, not testing for benzene
3/23 City council introduced resolution to support re AB-2756 bill to increase civil penalties for regulatory violations, enhance DOC’s authority to regulate oil/gas industry; mentions the Termo gas leak (passed 4/11/16)
3/29 voted 4/25/16 resolution to support SB 887
3/31 Meeting #12 of PRCAC: Guest Speakers: Katie Butler and Angelo Bellomo, PH, John Budroe, OEHHA, Jorn Herner, CARB,
Steven Leonido-John, US EPA Region; air testing, CASPER study, air filtration, PH against toxicology testing; discussion
of other chemicals, PH can use “legal route” to get list of chemicals from SCG
4/5 CEC, CAISO, CPUC, LADWP to release Aliso Canyon Action Plan for LA area
4/8 Joint Agency Workshop on Aliso Canyon Action Plan for Local Energy Reliability in Summer 2016
4/9 SPR held a community forum
4/12 Consumer Watchdog sent letter to Senators de Leno and Hueso and Assembly Members Rendon and Gatto stating that two recent reports by the CPUC, DWP, SCG and state energy regulators claiming blackouts will ensue if Aliso is curtailed were based on false information and key omissions
4/12 Introduced in city council (voted 9/15/16) Aliso Canyon Reliability Action Plan DWP to report to city council
4/14 Meeting#13 of PRCAC Guest Speakers: Edward Randolph (CPUC) Ken Harris (DOGGR) Gillian Wright (SCG) update on
Summer 2016 reliability report, migration measures being used; 3,936 households still relocated
4/28 Meeting #14 of PRCAC Guest Speakers: Wayne Nastri, Dr. Phillip Fine, Cher Snyder, Nancy Feldman, Jason Low
(AQMD), Neena Master (SCG), Chuck Lambert (listed as representing SCG, but in reality works for Intrinsik)
nuisance issues, CARB's mitigation plan is online, Termo & Crimson leaks, on 5/14 will be status hearing on the abatement
order, 3600 households still relocated, 35 homes applied for home cleaning
4/30 Law firm sent letter requesting SoCalGas in disclose test data regarding the chemicals identified by its experts as
being potential causes for the health problems, after Robert Ettinger asserted on behalf of SCG that the formaldehyde,
ammonia, other chemicals were from “background outdoor sources.”.
5/10 Brown signed SB-380 Natural gas storage: moratorium bill
5/12 Dust in homes showed contaminants
5/12 Meeting #15 of PRCAC Guest Speakers: Dr. Jeffrey Gunsenhouser, Dr. Cyrus Rangan, Angelo Belomo, Scot Cuno
Cuno, Katie Butler (PH) findings of the CASPER and indoor environmental studies; health symptoms haven't
diminished, barium found in 23% of PR homes checked, metals found in dust samples, PH said they
asked for list of materials from well, but SCG said they were "proprietary"
5/13 The CASPER report was made public (Aliso Canyon Gs Lake Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response). It
included a discussion of residents reporting oily spots.
5/14 Environmentalists and residents March to Break Free from Fossil Fuels
5/15 Environmental activists staged sit in blocking entrance to SoCalGas gate
5/17 SCG claimed formaldehyde & ammonia were already here
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/29/globe-newswire-witness-for-socalgas-identifies-chemicals-that-may-cause-health-problems-for-porter-ranch-residents.html (press release from Parris law firm)
5/17 City council introduced motion for Aliso Town Hall Meeting voted 5/24/16 (PH to have a town hall meeting and
a dedicated hotline)
5/19 PH held a community health meeting. They were asked about chemicals that are in houses, etc., the Rangan letter
to health providers
5/20 SCG ordered to pay for professional, comprehensive cleaning of homes for relocated residents (through County)
5/22 PH issued work order after Environmental Health specialists observed the cleaning wasn't in compliance
5/23 City council introduced motion for SCG Franchise / Ensure Strong Legal Protections (voted 5/23/16)
5/26 SoCalGas agreed in writing to pay up to $400,000 for health study
5/26 Meeting #16 PRCAC Guest Speakers: Gillian Wright, Neena Master, SCG, new deadline for signing up
for cleaning for those still relocated
5/27 Save Porter Ranch, Stand LA, Physicians for Social Responsibility meet with Bernie Sanders
6/1 Whole Foods fundraiser for SPR
6/3 Rally outside Van Nuys city hall re 100% renewables
6/6 (and 6/7) public comments regarding ethane emissions for California’s natural gas system were collected
6/7 Primary election. In County Supervisor #5 race, Mitchell Englander comes in 5th place.
6/11 Council person Mitchell Englander throws a Family Festival, an "opportunity for all affected residents to reconnect
with their community and enjoy the quality of life we have here in the beautiful San Fernando Valley." At the
event, he refers to residents who felt this was an inappropriate event, in an TV interview, saying "Haters
gonna hate."
6/12 PRNC election results become official
6/16 Meeting #17 PRCAC Guest Speakers: Gillian Wright, Neena Master (SCG). It was announced this would be the
final meeting. Issam Najm said there were still unresolved issues such as cleaning. It was mentioned that
there was a fire in an oil drum on the property the week prior.
6/22 Obama signs the Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act (PIPES) that would
create multi-agency panel to study the Aliso Canyon blowout
6/23 An oil pipeline in Ventura County ruptured, leaked about 29,400 gallons of oil, pipeline owned by Crimson Pipeline
July AQMD filed suit against SoCalGas regarding lack of action on funding the health study ordered in the abatement order (SCG
said it was willing to fund only a health risk assessment at a cost no more than $400,000)
7/1 No More Blackout/Blackmail rally outside LA City Hall (before council meeting)
7/2 Another leak (no public notification) https://w3.calema.ca.gov/operational/malhaz.nsf/992ff124c3ac73c9882563ae00756c70/698412e1e43085b488257fe40072f99c?OpenDocument
7/7 Rally outside SCG facility
7/9 Protect our Families! Before AQMD Hearing regarding abatement hearing at CSUN. Residents called for air
monitors, long term health study, community notification plan, showed solidarity for 8-Mile, AL
7/10 Public Comment period opened (til 8/11) on permanent gas storage regulations
7/13 Hearing re shopping center/hotel at Porter Ranch Dr/Rinaldi was held
7/13 New PRNC board sworn in
7/21 Letter from SPR legal to AQMD hearing board
7/23 SPR goes door to door in PR to raise awareness about Aliso
7/27 Assembly Natural Resources Committee meeting hears Aliso bill SB 887
8/6 Potluck held in PR
8/6 (and 8/7) SPR went door to door to talk with residents about Aliso
8/25 hearing re new center in Porter Ranch
8/26 State Aliso Canyon Winter Energy Reliability Workshop
9/1 Rally/press conference to rebut Winter reliability report; based on Powers Engineering report: Critical Review of
Aliso Canyon Winter Risk Assessment and Action Plan that said Aliso can be closed permanently without affecting reliability
9/2 Report by SPR/FWW A collection of state agencies determined that gas from other sources can take care of
LA energy needs
9/9 Public comments for IEPR2016-08-26 workshop
9/11 Gas storage regulations hearing
9/12 SCG acidizes at Aliso
9/12 Gas leak
9/13 SCG pleaded no contest to failing to timely report the leak to the CalOES, LACo Fire; The co. allowed the rest
of the counts to be dismissed. SCG to pay up to $4.3 million (fines, cost of the investigation & emergency
response, the rest to cover the cost of installing, operating methane monitors). No money allocated back to
residents, denied restitution.
9/14 PRNC met with AQMD
9/17 AQMD hearing board hearing, residents tell the AQMD hearing board that they are still getting sick. Other topics included
notification system. pointing out that it was toxic chemicals (not just the methane). Other topics included notification system.
9/27 At BOS meeting, Antonovich and Kuehl ask PH to partner with AQMD to come up with scope for health study
10/18 PH sent the BOS a letter about a health study for both Aliso and Exide,
10/23 One year anniversary of blowout
10/26 Health Expert Panel discussed scope for a health study
11/1 SCG filed to reopen Aliso
11/4 UCLA Center for Occupational & Env Health annual fall symposium Matt (SPR) & Alex (FWW) on a panel
11/7 BOS voted tgo ask the state to keep Aliso closed until it’s been determined to be needed
11/10 SPR/FWW health survey
11/15 LAUSD voted unanimously to support shutting down Aliso
11/9 SCG sent letter to the BOS re a motion to restrict gas injection, saying it's not consistent with SB-380
11/21 Bromide Trifluoride released into air
11/22 Pipeline explosion in New Mexico
11/28 County District Attorney says victims have no right to restitution in criminal judgement against SCG
11/29 Fence line discussed at Highlands HOA Board meeting
12/2 LA City Council meeting (with rally before)
12/8 SPR meets with LA Times editorial board
12/8 SPR meets with Mel Levine
12/9 SPR meets with the LADWP
12/15 SPR meets with Senator Feinstein
12/21 Rally before SCG open house
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AQMD South Coast Air Quality Management District
BOS LA County Board of Supervisors
CARB California Air Resource Board
COLA City of Los Angeles
CPUC California Public Utilities Commission (part of California Dept of Conservation)
DOC California Dept of Conservation
DOGGR California Division of Oil Gas Geothermal Resources (part of California Dept of Conservation)
EDF Environmental Defense Fund
EPA US Environmental Protection Agency
FWW Food & Water Watch
LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District
OEHHA California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
PH LA County Dept of Public Health
PR Porter Ranch
PRCAC Porter Ranch Community Advisory Committee
PRNC Porter Ranch Neighborhood Council
SCG Southern California Gas Company
SPR Save Porter Ranch
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