A lawsuit has been filed against the Southern California Gas Company (SoCal) after a huge gas leak near Los Angeles.
The charges have been brought by the Californian Attorney General Kamala Harris after the incident last year.
More than 13,000 people were forced from their homes following the leak in Porter Ranch which began last October.
It has been alleged SoCal violated health and safety laws by failing to report and contain leaking methane.
The incident was described by environmental campaigner Erin Brokovich as the worst environmental disaster in the US since 2010.
The Attorney General said:”The impact of this unprecedented gas leak is devastating to families in our state, our environment and our efforts to combat global warming.
“Southern California Gas Company must be held accountable.”
Last month, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in the region.