Gas odors

Dear Editor:Gerry Greene from the city's Engineering Department advised this week that The Gas Co. would be working on an underground supply line over the next few weeks in the area of Foster Road and Ardis Avenue. The work includes the injection of a gas called mercaptin into the new gas line. You may know that mercaptin is the 'smell' part of the natural gas in some pipelines and in our gas appliances. Gas Co. officials report mercaptin is a non-toxic gas. Since natural gas is odorless, without mercaptin we would not be able to smell a gas leak. As a result of the use of mercaptin on the Foster Road project, the police and fire dispatch centers may get 'gas leak' calls for service. Passersby may get a whiff of the mercaptin and believe there is a problem and consequently report it. A natural gas line under the No. 2 westbound lane of Firestone Boulevard near Pangborn Street will be replaced in the near future. The contractor will be working between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to reduce the expected delays on Firestone. This work will likely cause some additional traffic congestion in the area and perhaps result in a few 'gas odor' investigations as well. The businesses will remain open during the street work. -Mark Sauter, Deputy City Manager, Emergency Preparedness

********** Published: June 19, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 9