Save Porter Ranch

Aliso Canyon--in the hills there is oil drilling Photo by Gayle Dufour

ORG. "SAVE PORTER RANCH" FIGHTING AGAINST OIL DRILLING

& OIL LEAKS

IN THE SANTA SUSANA MTS.

More Oil Drilling Proposed for Aliso Canyon

The oil and gas drilling company, Long-Beach based, Termo Co. has been drilling at the Aliso Canyon site for years. They have 18 wells on the site and they want 12 new wells there. They are located north of Porter Ranch. (See more info. below.)

Gas Co. Gas Leak Above Porter Ranch

SoCalGas Denial of Natural Gas Leak Endangers Residents

On Friday, October 23, a 40-year-old gas injection well, SS25, at the SoCalGas Aliso Canyon Storage Field started leaking due to well integrity failure. The odor from this leak was SO STRONG, that members of Save Porter Ranch immediately called 911 and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to report the smell. The Fire Department and SCAQMD confirmed the leak and the source.

Through the weekend, the SoCalGas Company emergency hotline staff denied the leak and told residents that the smell was coming from routine monthly natural gas releases at the Storage Facility. Undeterred, Save Porter Ranch notified residents and nearby schools about the leak and worked with residents to generate emails and phone calls to SoCalGas, SCAQMD and our elected officials, LA Councilmember Mitchell Englander and LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.

Finally, on Monday, October 26 at 1:30pm (three days after they knew about it), SoCalGas admitted the leak was due to well integrity issues at their facility by going public on our Facebook page! SoCalGas claimed that the leak posed no threat to public health. However, Save Porter Ranch received many complaints from residents about headaches, dizziness, vomiting, shortness of breath and other health issues in addition to reports of sick companion animals.

2015, Great Year for Oil Spills and Gas Leaks

Same Irresponsible Attitude & Poor Maintenance in the Santa Barbara Oil Spill (May 2015) and Recent S.C. Gas Co. Gas Leak (Oct 2015)

By Elaine Trogman, Does anybody remember that we had another fossil fuel disaster just 6 months earlier in May of 2015 with the Refugio oil spill around the Santa Barbara area? That seems to be old news but it caused a lot of damage to wildlife in the area. That area is considered the biologically rich Galapagos of North America.

Regarding the Texas oil pipeline company Plains All-American Co., the cost of the cleanup was estimated by the company to be $96 million with overall expenses including expected legal claims and potential settlements to be around $257 million. Per the L.A. Times May 23, 2015 article, “Federal records show Plains (All American Co.) has accumulated 175 safety and maintenance infractions since 2006. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sued the company in 2010 over a series of 10 oil spills in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kansas.” According to the Pacific Coast Business Times Aug 4, 2015, the offending (Santa Barbara) pipeline #901 did not have an automatic shut off valve. The Business Times continues, “ The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has already issued a corrective action order to Plains, and can also impose fines, penalties or criminal charges. Its assessment of Line 901 found that the pipe had worn down to 1/16th of an inch.” Per Sierra Club Calif., approx.101,000 gallons of crude oil had spilled from the broken pipe

I am mentioning the Santa Barbara Oil Spill because 6 months later the San Fernando Valley has become the new fossil fuel disaster area; we have taken over where we left off with Santa Barbara. Per the L.A. Times Jan. 15, 2016, “The gas company reported Oct. 23 that gas was escaping through small cracks in the rocky ground around well SS25, which is among 115 former oil extraction wells that have been converted for the natural gas storage operation. In November, efforts to force heavy mud into the well resulted in blasting open a small vent in the ground from which gas could escape more readily.” “Three more efforts to plug the well were made in November, with increasing amounts of backwash and scouring along the wellhead itself that left the well jutting out of a deep hole, without surface support.” “ By early January, state air quality regulators estimate, the leak had released more than 77 million kilograms of methane, the environmental equivalent of putting 1.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in the air.

Independent health impact studies are not yet complete. Mercaptan added to allow gas to be detected by smell has sickened residents more than a mile away, and Southern California Gas is paying to house more than 2,500 in temporary lodging and has installed air purifiers into the homes of a similar number who chose to stay.”

As of Feb., we did get the well SS25 under control; it took about 4 months. That doesn’t solve the bigger problem, which is that 50 of the other wells are over 70 years old. Legally, shutoff valves are not required unless the well is near a road, school, or residency. This is the largest conglomeration of gas wells west of the Mississippi River and it is near a large populated area. All of this has to be addressed and changed.

THINGS YOU CAN DO

You can help us have a greater impact by contacting Supervisor Antonovich

Save Porter Ranch says that Saturday, we hiked in over 100 degree weather to call on the County to do a Health Impact Assessment for the 12 proposed oil wells in the Aliso Canyon. Our efforts made it into the Daily News: Porter Ranch residents, officials call for health impact study of proposed oil wells.

Now we need your help to echo these demands to Supervisor Michael Antonovich.

Call and email Supervisor Antonovich and ask for a thorough health study. Give them your name and where you live. Call: (818) 0993- 5170. Email: fifthdistrict@lacbos.org Tell Supervisor Antonovich to protect public health and require a Health Impact Assessment for the Termo Company's 12 proposed oil wells.

Attend out public meetings:

Talk to your friends & neighbors regarding health dangers of drilling & gas leaks

Elf Queen with large pointed ears Susan Gorman-Chang went trick or treating and gave out leaflets regarding the gas leak. Here is her report:

I am dressed as Galadriel the Elf Queen from Lord of the Rings and went door to door and handed out flyers about 1-800--CUT-SMOG, our Nov 14 Forum, and to talk to people about Save Porter Ranch, gas leak, etc.. Nearly everyone has smelled the gas, and most everyone did not know the # to call. There are so many reports of nausea, dizziness, headaches, nosebleeds from kids and adults! One women had to bring in her Golden Lab dog to emergency clinic after hours because its throat was so irritated & swollen it was choking! I scared one guy who opened the door and cried "WOW -- A big kid!" I assured him I was not there for his candy and started talking about Save Porter Ranch, gas leak, etc. I'm not sure if that made him feel better or worse....Elf Queens HATE when people mess with nature!!!!!!!

How much oil and gas drilling and storage is there next to

Porter Ranch / Chatsworth / Granada Hills? See the map below!

To quote the Daily News, “If approved by the L.A. County Department of Regional Planning, the new wells would add to the 150 active oil and gas wells operating within the 3,200-acre Aliso Canyon field, where petroleum was discovered in 1938,”

More Oil Drilling Proposed for Aliso Canyon

Food & Water Watch says, “We know that the Termo Company has used fracking in the past, and they might do it again here. Without a thorough environmental review we have no way of knowing what they plan to do, or how it might impact the Porter Ranch community. In order to ensure full transparency and accountability, we demand that LA County completes an Environmental Impact Report.” We have had a victory and we are going to get the EIR but it must address the right issues!

PAST "SAVE PORTER RANCH' EVENTS

Termo Oil Drilling Co. Will Submit an Environmental Impact Statement.

Nearly Thousand Petition Signatures Signed by Residents Were Submitted

by Susan Gorman-Chang, Member, Save Porter Ranch

The other day, I came across an article I clipped from the LA Times from the early 1990s, about an incident in Porter Ranch. It seems about 1,000 sheep, usually found grazing on the hills behind our development, broke off from the main flock. The wayward sheep headed south, ending up where Corbin & Rinaldi St. intersect, at Shepherd of the Hills Church (how fun is that) before being rounded up by the shepherd, 3 dogs, and several Los Angeles police. As you can image, it was chaos for several hours. Yes, when my family moved into Porter Ranch in 1991, and for years afterwards, sheep grazed on the mountain side to keep the brush down, which acted as a natural fire prevention technique and made for a pastoral scene.

What a difference a few years make. Now we find ourselves embroiled in the fight over whether 12 new oil wells should be allowed to be drilled in the hills behind Porter Ranch. Save Porter Ranch, a grass roots group that sprung up to combat this threat, garnered support from community members and partnered with Food & Water Watch. We presented nearly 1,000 signatures to the LA County Board of Supervisors, demanding an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). So, ultimately, Los Angeles County agreed to conduct an EIR for Termo Oil Corporation’s request to drill 12 new oil wells.

On May 20, 2015 the County held a public hearing EIR Scoping Meeting from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Porter Ranch Community School, where roughly 100 community members showed up and vocalized demands for what should be considered, studied and addressed in the EIR. Comments were personal, thoughtful, and intelligent. They ranged from concerns about any flammable, toxic and carcinogenic chemicals used in whatever oil drilling techniques Termo will be using, to the effect on our home values with oil drilling so near. Others brought up concerns about protection of this Significant Ecological Area, potential fire hazards, water usage for drilling in times of drought, the effect on water table, streams and creeks, regulation of the oil drilling process and long term wear & tear on the oil and gas infrastructure such as pipes and water reinjection wells and what efforts will be taken to ensure upkeep and safety.

The sheep no longer graze in our hills, but we are all still shepherds. We are shepherds of this beautiful and vulnerable habitat, home to species of owls, quail, falcons, hawks, red winged blackbirds, lizards, deer, and coyotes and so much more. We must ensure the integrity and safety of our air and water. What affects the animals that live in our hills, affects we humans beings as well. We all share this precious environment, feeling the same wind and breathing the same air, as it blows down through the wild mustard on the hills, into our neighborhoods and on to all of the San Fernando Valley.

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION

Save Porter Ranch website

Save Porter Ranch Facebook page

Hike Protest to Demand a

Health Study of 12 Proposed Oil Wells

Near Porter Ranch

WEBSITE: Save Porter Ranch website

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SavePorterRanch

By Elaine Trogman: On a Saturday in August, with temps in the triple digits, about 15 determined people decided to take an 8-mile hike in view of the oil fields in Aliso Canyon. They were carrying signs saying such things as: “We want a heath study,” “Health comes first,” “Safe trails not more drills,” and “Our health matters.” These people were from “Save Porter Ranch”(SPR) and other places and they are protesting the 12 new oil wells, north of Porter Ranch, that Termo Co. wants to drill in the Aliso Canyon area. These wells would be placed among 131 protected oaks in the Santa Susana Mountains with 3 separate well pads of 4 wells per the Daily News. Currently, Termo has 18 working wells in the area.

Now, the proposal is undergoing an environmental review and the draft environmental impact reports should come out in fall 2015. There are many people that think that the environmental review alone is not sufficient—there needs to be a separate health impact assessment, also.

SPR says that “We are hiking to demand a Health Impact Assessment that will overview public health studies, as well as the possible impacts to air, water, soil, accident scenarios, nature trails and overall community livability. Even though we got the Environmental Impact Report, we've learned that there is no guarantee it will fully study health impacts. That's why we also need a thorough health study, known as the Health Impact Assessment.”

Matt Pakucko and Kyoko Hibino bought their home 8 years ago and there wasn’t any statement disclosing the existing oil well drilling. There is a well that pumps crude oil 1200 ft .from their house. Kyoko says she is suffering headaches and nose bleeds; she is not alone, there are 14 others that say they have had the same symptoms and they suspect it is from the drilling behind their homes. These people include children from Castle Bay Lane Elementary school. Others complain of increased incidents of asthma & other respiratory ailments. There are Porter Ranch residents that have commented to air regulators about the nighttime oil and gas stench. These persons have asked to have their health complaints reviewed in a health impact assessment of the new wells.

Mitch Englander, who represents this district, wants a health assessment. The County planners said to him that they are including a section on health risk assessment of air quality in the environmental review. Per the Daily News, “And if that assessment indicates ‘significant impacts from the project,’ wrote Regional Planning Director Richard Bruckner then a health impact study ‘will be conducted.’”

“The problem is The Termo Co. wants to drill 12 new wells, but the county doesn’t want to study the health impacts,” said former Chatsworth resident Alexandra Nagy, an organizer for Food and Water Watch, an environmental group that helped organize the protest hike. “We do know that residents are complaining of nosebleeds and headaches suspected of being caused by the Aliso field. We would like the county, given the complaints, to do a full health study on the cumulative impact of 12 new wells.”

You can help us have a greater impact.

Now we need your help to echo these demands to Supervisor Michael Antonovich.
Call and email Supervisor Antonovich and ask for a thorough health study. Give them your name and where you live.
Call: (818) 0993-5170
Email: fifthdistrict@lacbos.org

Tell Supervisor Antonovich to protect public health and require a Health Impact Assessment for the Termo Company's 12 proposed oil wells.

When the weather cools off, we look forward to doing more hikes. Until then, we'll keep you posted on the state of the Draft Environmental Impact Report.

Check out more photos of the hike on facebook

Disposable People of Porter Ranch?

by Susan Gorman Chang

As the sun came up over the mountains, residents of Porter Ranch and concerned citizens gathered at the entrance to the Southern California Gas (So. Cal Gas) facility at Tampa & Sesnon. We held signs and chanted “Stop the lies, stop the leak, clean air is what we seek!” We are calling on our elected officials to hold So Cal Gas accountable for their gas leak, their lies and their misconduct. Porter Ranch residents closest to the leaking injection well SS#25 have been suffering headaches, nose bleeds, shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness and nausea for 7 days now. The leak was initially denied by So. Cal Gas, and residents took it upon themselves to call AQMD, the fire department and Save Porter Ranch called the elementary schools to alert them. So. Cal Gas remained silent, and then came out and said we were safe. In fact, we are not. Mercaptan is the “odorant” they add to gas so we can detect it, but it is not a harmless chemical. According to the CDC website, the symptoms we are experiencing are consistent with mercaptan exposure. We feel like So. Cal Gas thinks we are disposable people and our health does not matter. We want our air tested and monitored from now on by the polluter responsible for this ongoing disaster, Southern California Gas.

Early in the protest, a lone coyote ran across the street and up into the hills. “Nooo Wile E. Coyote,” a protestor joked. “It’s not safe! Don’t go into the hills..it’s all Acme up there!” Yes, Southern California Gas, it certainly is.

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