While certainly seeing the viability and need for above ground storage of natural gas, I can’t see any reason, beyond profit, to restore it below ground anywhere near where people live.
The problems just seem huge.
Bill to protect neighborhood above natural gas reservoir clears Senate panel
By Judy Lin - jlin@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, April 2, 2008
The state Senate moved Tuesday to help protect a Sacramento neighborhood sitting atop a proposed mile-long natural gas reservoir.
A bill that cleared its first committee hurdle would make the reservoir developer financially responsible to the strictest legal standard should anything happen to the working-class neighborhood of Avondale-Glen Elder in south Sacramento.
Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said his Senate Bill 1700 would cover everything from property damage to physical side effects as a result of prolonged exposure to the gas.
"The ordinary standard, when something goes wrong would be negligence, which requires a whole lot of proof and litigation," Steinberg said Tuesday. "This simply says if you are confident that a project won't be of harm to the neighborhood, then you should be comfortable saying you would take on liability if something does go wrong."
Sacramento Natural Gas Storage is seeking permission from the state and city to reopen an underground reservoir to hold up to 8 billion cubic feet of natural gas for clients such as the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. The Florin Gas Field had been pumped dry and its wells sealed years ago.
Although aimed at the local firm, SB 1700's provisions would apply to any corporation operating a natural gas storage facility.
