On January 6^th, California Governor Jerry Brown “declared a state of emergency… over a major gas leak in the Los Angeles suburb of Porter Ranch.”  The leak was discovered in late October 2015, and the Southern California Gas Company (locally known as “SoCalGas”) has not yet been able to stop the natural gas from pouring out into the atmosphere. 

And this is no small leak – it’s large enough to have caused a huge impact on the local community.  The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found that the leak is causing health problems in some area residents, causing many to move away rather than stay until the leak is contained.  According to ABC News:  “[SoCalGas] is in the process of relocating thousands of people concerned about the leak, with at least 2,292 households accepting relocation, according to the company.”

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, this leak is “equivalent to the yearly greenhouse gas emissions from more than 480,000 passenger vehicles….”

In response to the leak, California’s state Senate announced “a package of bills” on January 11^th.  “The four bills have several key elements, including increasing inspections and safety requirements for the state’s natural gas infrastructure…  The well in question is more than 60 years old – and a safety valve that would have likely prevented this leak was removed in the 1970s due to a different leak.  It was never replaced.” 

Just days before the State of Emergency was declared, the California Department of Finance released its annual population estimates for the state.  According to the new report, Los Angeles County’s population reached 10.2 million– the largest in the state.  The state’s population also grew by a net of 83,906 international immigrants – and Los Angeles County saw the most new immigrants of the entire state. 

NPG has long drawn the links between reckless immigration policies, U.S. population growth, and the dangerous strain on our aging infrastructure. 

Since our founding in 1972, NPG has worked to change the way Americans think about population growth.  And 44 years later, we’re still on the front lines – publishing new research, reaching out to elected leaders, educating our nation’s students, and putting our message in major national publications that reach millions of Americans.

And our work is far from over – nearly every day, the headlines are filled with another environmental crisis, another executive order, another piece of legislation in Congress, or another city enacting policies with dangerous population-increasing consequences.

There’s a responsibility inherent in being an American citizen:  we must act as stewards, protecting our nation and planet for our children and grandchildren.

Thank you for everything you do to support our critical mission.  Together, we’re working for a livable future!