lawyer: gas well missing valve that could have stopped fumes displacing residents

Los angeles-A lawmaker says a leaking gas well near Los Angeles lacks a working safety valve that prevents smoke from releasing.
Lawyer Brian Panish, representing displaced residents, has been suing for months-
Leakage for a long time, said the valve may not be able to prevent leakage, but can prevent the flow of smoke.
Los Angeles Times (
Southern California Gas Company reported Monday
Confirm that there is no underground valve in the well at Porter Ranch.
Melissa Bailey, a spokesman for the company, said the valve was not required by law.
Resident lawyers said the company failed to replace the safety valve when it removed the safety valve in 1979.