Southern California Gas Charged with Crimes in Connection with Aliso Canyon Gas Leak

Criminal charges were filed against Southern California Gas Co. for failing to immediately report the gas leak at its Aliso Canyon facility to the proper state authorities.

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“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,” District Attorney Jackie Lacey said. “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.”

The criminal complaint charges the company with four misdemeanor counts: three counts of failing to report the release of hazardous materials from October 23 to October 26, 2015, and one count of discharging air contaminants, beginning on October 23, 2015, to the present.

If convicted, the company could be fined up to $25,000 a day for each day that it failed to notify the California Office of Emergency Services.

The company also could be fined up to $1,000 per day for air pollution violations.

The company will be arraigned on February 17 at the Santa Clarita Branch of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Department 3.

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