Porter Ranch Residents Have Till March 18 to Move Home After Appellate Court Rejects Gas Co. Argument

Eunice Kim walks back to her home in Porter Ranch on Feb. 18, 2016. Kim said that she and her husband had to move out of their home for over two months due to physical discomfort as a result of the poor air quality. They moved back in after temporarily staying at her brother’s home in Westwood. (Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

by: Los Angeles Times

Posted: Mar 3, 2016 / 06:22 AM PST

Updated: Mar 3, 2016 / 06:22 AM PST

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Southern California Gas Co. will have to continue paying for temporary accommodations for Porter Ranch residents who do not believe it is safe to move home in the wake of the largest methane leak in U.S. history, an appeals court ruled Wednesday.

The California 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the gas company’s argument that residents should immediately vacate their hotels and other temporary homes now that the gas leak has been fixed.

Customers will now have until March 18 to move home.

The Aliso Canyon gas leak was first reported Oct. 23. Residents in Porter Ranch and surrounding communities complained of headaches, nausea and nosebleeds, symptoms that health officials believe were caused by odorants added to the methane to help detect a leak.

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