Prevent huge methane leaks

In “A billowing wake-up call from LA on greenhouse gas” (editorial Dec. 31), The Bee editorial warns that California’s leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is at risk because of insufficient regulations, oversight and enforcement.

If the analysis is taken seriously, perhaps California will not suffer another catastrophic failure like the ongoing massive leak from an underground natural gas reservoir near Los Angeles. Described as a smelly plume rising like “an industrial smokestack,” the leak is primarily methane, a greenhouse gas many times more potent than carbon dioxide. (For a video of the plume, see bit.ly/1PsJQIw)

Thousands of tons of methane have been released since late October, and thousands of people in a nearby residential area will remain displaced for several more months. As you say, the battle against climate change requires action, “countless mundane acts,” and preventing huge methane leaks should be a priority.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 6:51 AM with the headline "Prevent huge methane leaks."