Southern California Gas Company agrees to faster resident relocation amid massive gas leak

Southern California Gas Co. has agreed to speed up the relocation of residents affected by a now 2-month-old gas leak in Los Angeles.

The company agreed Wednesday to pay for up to three retired judges to oversee the ongoing relocation and for security to protect residents’ empty homes.

The agreement, approved by a county judge, comes after the city attorney’s office sought a court order to help speed up the relocation process.

The gas leak was discovered at a Southern California gas facility on Oct. 23 in the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles. It already has forced the company to relocate thousands of residents who have said the stench made them sick.

Chief Deputy City Attorney Jim Clark says 46 residents have filed complaints about the relocation process.