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A massive gas leak in a Los Angeles suburb that has adversely affected residents for months prompted California Governor Jerry Brown to declare that neighborhood under a state of emergency.

Fox News reported that Southern California Gas Co. has been spewing various gases, including up to 1,200 tons of methane, into the air every day since October. The gas blowout happening in an underground storage facility still continues, and it will take a few months before the leak can be fixed. Brown's action was driven by the request of the residents of Porter Ranch.

Brown demanded the gas firm to have backup plans if they fail to shut the leak. The governor has already sent emergency regulations to the rest of the gas-storage facilities in the area.

According to the LA Times those emergency regulations require all operators of gas facilities to have daily inspections using infrared leak-detection devices. They are also required to make sure that the wells are secured and strong enough. The gas facility operators must measure has flow and pressure, as well as test safety valves often.

The facilities should also come up with risk management plans to examine pipes that are at risk of corrosion. According to the state Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, the new regulations are applicable to various gas storage facilitates all over nine counties in California.

Emergency Management wrote that Brown ordered state agencies to use "all necessary state personnel, equipment, and facilities to ensure a continuous and thorough response to this incident." The governor didn't suspend state laws, used more resources from public funds, or cut red tape to solve the leak, unlike how most emergency proclamations are carried out.

He even argues that the SoCal Gas should pay for all the expenses caused by the gas leak. He ordered the California Public Utilities Commission to make sure that the gas firm will pay for all the costs related to the leak.