Pasadena gas leak (Composite photo edforg and Google maps)
With the natural gas leak at Porter Ranch (Aliso Canyon) fresh on our minds, a study by an environmental group has identified locations where methane is leaking in Pasadena.
Prepared by Bruce Palmer Jr.
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) extensive research effort revealed that methane is leaking at every stage of the oil and gas supply chain.
In addition, EDF teamed up with a Google Street View mapping car outfitted with air sensors that detected elevated levels of methane, and released an interactive map showing that leaks are a problem even in neighborhoods, where many small leaks add up to a big climate problem.
Most of the leaks don’t pose an immediate threat to safety or health, but they do pose harm to the environment.
EDF selected three geographically diverse cities in the Los Angeles Area within Southern California Gas Company’s service area: Pasadena, Inglewood and Chino (click the map below).
Interactive Map (Photo – edf.org).
Why are leaks happening?
It’s a combination of oil and gas companies failing to monitor and maintain aging infrastructure and a lack of oversight of the oil and gas industry. For too long, we have gone without federal and state standards that require sufficient leak and safety inspections for oil and gas facilities.
When leaks do occur, they may go unnoticed indefinitely, since methane is colorless and odorless.
Mark Brownstein, Vice President of EDF’s climate and energy program says:
This is partly why methane leaks across the oil and gas supply chain have gone unaddressed for so long—because, unlike an oil spill, it’s not immediately apparent to the general public that something’s amiss.
Is a solution in sight?
The good news: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now finalizing national rules that will, for the first time, directly regulate oil and gas methane emissions. The bad news: The rules don’t go far enough—they only address pollution from oil and gas facilities that will be built in the future, not the ones that already exist and are polluting the air today.
How can we help?
The EDF has called on the Obama administration and the EPA to support strong national standards for oil and gas methane emissions—from all sources.
The EDF has put a call to action page where you can send a letter to President Obama and the EPA supporting stronger rules.
Source: edf.org
Methane leaks, tremendous overbuilding, no parking, traffic, ugh. Such a beautiful town and sadly, the quality of life here is eroding every day.