New blow to homeowners in massive Porter Ranch gas leak in L.A.

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a stop work order Sunday evening to Southern California Gas over its cleaning efforts following the months-long Porter Ranch gas leak, reports CBS Los Angeles.

SoCal Gas had begun cleaning the homes of relocated Porter Ranch residents, but the county found they weren't cleaning to specified court order, the health agency announced Sunday.

The department directed SoCalGas to immediately discontinue the cleaning and meet with department officials Monday to discuss how company officials propose to resolve the deficiencies and ensure strict compliance with the court ordered protocol.

The department found that the contractor was neither equipped nor trained for proper cleaning as required the department's rules. The work won't resume until SoCalGas provides necessary assurance that it can carry out the cleaning in compliance with the Public Health protocol, the department said.

In a statement, the department said it had observers watch the work when it began Sunday -- and the work was found wanting.