http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Brea_Tar_Pits#Source_of_methane_discovered
La Brea Tar Pits
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The La Brea Tar Pits (or Rancho La Brea Tar Pits) are a famous cluster of tar pits located in Hancock Park in the urban heart of Los Angeles, California, United States.
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Source of methane discovered
Methane gas also seeps up, causing bubbles that make the asphalt appear to boil. Asphalt and methane also appear under surrounding buildings, requiring special operations to remove, lest it weaken the buildings’ foundations. In 2007, researchers from UC Riverside discovered that the bubbles are caused by hardy forms of bacteria embedded in the natural asphalt. The bacteria are eating away at the petroleum and releasing methane. Of the bacteria sampled so far, about 200 to 300 are previously unknown species.[2]
They delayed the re construction of L.A. High School for years because of the methane leaking to the surface.
It never hurt a kid for 74 years or so in the current school but according to the enviro whackos it was going to kill the now.
This just in from La Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara:
The methane generation situation is caused by many unknown bacteria species (Generic Name: Bacterium Tacophilium) that use as their host Tacos, Burritos, Frijoles Refritos, Enchiladas, Chalupas, Arroz, y Cerveza Dos Equis, which are activated in the human lower intestine and when released, silently or otherwise, then combine with the exhaust gases from lead-boostered LA Gas burned in a carburetted, oil-burning Chevy 350 from 1972, emitted from low-riding modified vehicles onto hot asphalt.
Any one who has ever visited our quaint and colorful neighbors to the south in their homeland will recognize the aroma immediately. Next time you are in Mexico City or even Tijuana, open the window, and if you dare, take a deep breath. ¡Es México! This low-level gas attack is a small, but key part of the The Big Plan .,,,,Aztlán!
Send my Nobel Prize for Chemistry out with my next SS Check. I promise to share it with my collaborators South of the Border.
You beat me to it! I was thinking the same thing.