By Amy Hawley
Lawrence Journal World – November 5, 2013
Homeowners in Lawrence have new concerns after the Kansas Department of Health and Environment informed them that the gas plume that created a house explosion has grown.
“I was pretty shocked because they said they had it mitigated,” Old West Lawrence resident Dan Schriner said.
Investigators found the gas tanks at a Presto Gas Station had slowly leaked fuel into the soil and groundwater for years. Vapors from the gas plume were sucked into a home in 2006 through its sump pump and exploded.
“We all have gas detectors in our basements,” Schriner said.
The Schriners thought it had been contained until they heard the state plans to dig up their street and build trenches in two front yards.
“A trench?” Schriner said with a grimace, “Now if they tear up the street and scare everybody again, nothing is going to sell on this block.”
Lawrence Fire Chief Mark Bradshaw said there is no imminent threat; the state is taking a precaution. “There is gasoline in the soil but that level of hazard is relatively low,” he said.
Bradshaw said anyone who smells gas in the air at Ninth and Ohio should immediately call police. But the Schriner’s said even a small threat of an explosion is a big concern.
“When I asked what I should do if the sensor goes off?” Schriner said, “They said get out of the house and call the fire department. I said ‘Can I go back?’ and they said probably not.”
Construction on the trenches to collect the gasoline-contaminated ground water will begin this month.
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