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Source of gasoline smell in north Red Deer still unknown

City staff continue to work with industrial company
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The industrial company where the gasoline odour originates is aware of residents’ concerns, says the city. (File photo by Advocate staff)

The city continues to work with a company in Edgar Industrial Park that has been emitting a gasoline odour that has annoyed Kentwood residents.

“(The company) is aware of the concerns from area residents. They are doing what they can to mitigate those smells,” said Beth McLachlan, development officer with the city’s inspections and licensing department.

“At this time, it hasn’t been determined exactly where the smell is coming from, but they are working with us to ensure that it isn’t a nuisance to the surrounding area.”

Companies are not allowed to emit odours and the city is monitoring the situation, she said.

In late May, Red Deer Emergency Services reported that a gas-like odour in the Edgar Industrial Park area was believed to have been caused by equipment delivered to the park and that the company was working to mitigate the smell.

A few residents have reported headaches and feeling nauseous and lethargic due to the odour.

McLachlan said the city investigated after the initial complaint, spoke with the company, and has asked the company to work the city.

She said there is no timeline to eliminate the odour. Depending on environmental factors such as the wind, the odour can be a detected one day and not the next.

Related:

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McLachlan was not aware of previous nuisance problems in Edgar Industrial Park.

“For the most part, most people do comply with the bylaw. They don’t generally create a nuisance.

“Because it is an industrial park, there might be some level of nuisance, but those can be mitigated with ongoing conversations with those companies to make sure that they are aware of those regulations.”

McLachlan said if residents have concerns, they should contact the inspections and licensing department, because it is the group that deals with bylaws that regulate industrial businesses.

“That way, we can log if there are further complaints and then take further action if required.”



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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