A Californian community will have its natural gas supply cut off on Monday morning, with utility company SoCalGas blaming "worsening land movement."
Gas service to 135 homes in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes, situated on the coastal outskirts of Los Angeles, will end from 9 a.m. local time, the company said.
"Due to worsening land movement, SoCalGas has determined it is unsafe to continue providing natural gas service in your community. Unfortunately, your natural gas service will be discontinued effective Monday, July 29, 2024, at approximately 9 a.m.," SoCalGas said in a service notice on July 27.
"We regret this unexpected disruption of service. This dynamic situation requires we take immediate action to protect public safety."
Wayfarers Chapel, also known as "The Glass Church," is shown closed due to shifting and sliding land after heavy rains in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on February 16, 2024. The coastal city will lose its...Wayfarers Chapel, also known as "The Glass Church," is shown closed due to shifting and sliding land after heavy rains in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on February 16, 2024. The coastal city will lose its natural gas service from Monday 9 a.m., SoCalGas has said.PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty ImagesIt said the neighborhood "continues to experience significant new land movement damaging roads, homes, and further threatening the safety of SoCalGas' infrastructure."
"The significant strain on SoCalGas' infrastructure caused by this recent land movement requires that we discontinue service at this time to protect the safety of the Portuguese Bend Community," they said.
SoCalGas did not explain exactly why notification of the change had been issued at such short notice.
Land movement, also known as ground movement, refers to the shifting, sliding, or settling of the Earth's surface. Rancho Palos Verdes has several areas that are experiencing significant land movement, with various landslides recorded over the years, leading to concerns about sections potentially falling into the sea. This is particularly evident in the Portuguese Bend area, which has a long history of land instability.
Recent land movement in the area is thought to be the result of proximity to a complex of ancient landslides, accelerated by heavy rainfall during the winter, "resulting in surface water percolating into the ground and lubricating the bentonite soil condition," the city of Rancho Palos Verdes explained in an FAQ.
In May 2024, Portuguese Bend's rate of land movement had increased by 31 times compared to November 2019, with other areas of the town seeing even greater rates of increase.
Land movement can cause gas pipelines to crack, rupture, or become misaligned, which can lead to gas leaks. Gas leaks can result in explosions or fires if the gas comes into contact with an ignition source. Shutting off the gas ensures that any necessary repairs can be made without the risk of leaks.
No leaks have been detected in the Portuguese Bend area, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes said in a statement.
"The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has repeatedly requested that SoCalGas provide residents with more time to prepare for the service shutoff. As of this posting, SoCalGas has confirmed that it remains unsafe to do so and will continue with the planned shutoff," the city said.
"The City continues to request a delay in the shutoff as we share residents' frustration with the short notice provided to the public."
SoCalGas has given no indication as to how long these homes will have no gas access.
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