10 years since Aliso Canyon: Disaster was wake-up call for U.S. on dangers of underground gas

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Ten years ago this week, the Aliso Canyon facility near Porter Ranch spewed about 120,000 tons of methane and toxic chemicals in the worst natural gas blowout in U.S. history.

Despite earlier promises to close the facility by 2027, regulators recently voted to extend its life and increase its storage capacity, citing California’s energy reliability needs.

Some residents say justice remains elusive.

On an evening 10 years ago, Porter Ranch resident Matt Pakucko stepped out of his music studio and was walloped by the smell of gas — like sticking your head in an oven, he recalled.

Pakucko called the fire department. It turned out crews had already been up to the Aliso Canyon gas sto