LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) filed a lawsuit against the Southern California Gas Co. on Tuesday, Jan. 26, seeking civil penalties against the utility for the leak in Aliso Canyon that has been spewing natural gas since late October.
The Los Angeles Superior Court complaint seeks up to $250,000 for each alleged violation of the state Health and Safety Code cited in the lawsuit.
On Nov. 23, the SCAQMD issued a notice to the Gas Co. for causing “an ongoing public nuisance … due to odors from the natural gas leak,” the suit states.
A Gas Co. representative did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.
Since the leak began, the district has received more than 2,000 complaints of odors from people living or working near the facility, the suit states.
In addition, thousands of people living near the facility have temporarily relocated, two local schools have closed and thousands of students have been relocated for the rest of the school year, according to the lawsuit.