The South Coast Air Quality Management District Hearing Board met on Tuesday, February 28th and then on Thursday, March 2nd, to vote on whether or not to terminate the Abatement Order against So Cal Gas Company’s Aliso Canyon Facility in light of the settlement agreement between AQMD and SoCalGas. The PRNC submitted a comment letter on both days asking for a NO vote because the settlement agreement does not satisfy the requirement of the Abatement Order. Other letters were submitted by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, by Dr. Jeffrey Nordella, and Senator Henry Stern. Several of our board members, as well as other stakeholders, and a representative of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health drove out to Diamond Bar to testify on both days. Unfortunately, the Hearing Board decided on March 2nd that it had no legal ground to continue the abatement order although the completely agreed that the health study was grossly underfunded by the settlement agreement, and they lay the blame squarely on the AQMD for executing the settlement agreement with the gas company.

The following are links to related documents including the settlement agreement and the comment letters submitted by the PRNC, La County DPH, and Senator Henry Stern:

Settlement Agreement between SCAQMD and SoCalGas.
PRNC Comment Letter, February 28th Hearing.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, February 28 Hearing.
PRNC Comment Letter, March 2nd Hearing.
Senator Henry Stern, March 2nd Hearing.