Press Release
Ventura Residents and Businesses Evacuated After Gas Leak at SoCalGas Compressor Station
SoCalGas identifies the unannounced leak as a “normal purge”
Ventura, CA — Ventura Westside residents found themselves under evacuation orders over the Fourth of July weekend after a gas leak was identified at the SoCalGas Olive St. compressor station site on Saturday, July 3. After inquiries by the Ventura Fire Department, SoCalGas referred to the leak as a result of a “normal purge” at the compressor on Saturday, July 3. Those under evacuation orders have now returned to their homes, but the official cause of the leak and circumstances around its mitigation remain unknown.
“There is nothing ‘normal’ about a gas leak that endangers the health of residents and their children,” said Food & Water Watch Senior Organizer and member of the Westside Clean Air Coalition Tomas Rebecchi in response to the leak. “SoCalGas has repeatedly insisted this facility — labeled a “super-emitter” of methane — poses no risk to the community directly adjacent to it. Yet we have fresh evidence that this compressor site is dangerous not just for our climate, but also for our community. How many more leaks will it take before our voices are heard? We have far too many unanswered questions for SoCalGas to continue business as usual. Construction on this dangerous facility cannot continue without an Environmental Impact Review and bilingual community consultation period.”
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