Gas-Leak Clean-Up Resumes In Porter Ranch Homes

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Southern California Gas Co. can resume cleaning Porter Ranch homes impacted by the Aliso Canyon gas leak, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced Wednesday.

The county lifted a stop-work order public health officials issued on Sunday after determining that cleanup procedures being used at homes didn't comply with protocol. County officials said at least one contractor doing the
work "was neither equipped nor trained for proper cleaning as required by Public Health.''

SoCalGas acknowledged "some issues'' in their initial efforts, noting that the company was "working to address any issues immediately'' in accordance with the Department of Public Health.

Public Health officials said the agency will have representatives supervise the ongoing cleaning work by SoCalGas and its contractors. Public Health authorities said they will continue to oversee conditions and information in the case, and intervene where necessary.

Residents can schedule cleanup appointments by calling (877) 766-7572, and check www.alisoupdates.com/main for more details.

The Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility leak was initially discovered Oct. 23, and was finally contained in February. Last week, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John Wiley ordered SoCalGas to offer cleanup services to as many as 2,500 homeowners in the area.

Testing at some homes found "low levels of metal contaminants'' comparable to that found in "well-drilling fluid,'' Public Health officials said.

• Also see: West Hills Driver, 75, Arrested After Allegedly Hitting CHP Officer, Fleeing Scene

Previous coverage:

• Court-Ordered Referee Sought In Clash of Porter Ranch vs. SoCalGas Co.
• L.A. County Health Officials Halt Clean-Up Of Porter Ranch Homes After Gas Leak
• Judge Orders Gas Co. to Pay Ongoing Rent for Displaced Porter Ranch Residents
• Judge Orders Gas Co. to Clean Thousands of Porter Ranch Homes

--City News Service/Morguefile image