Sundre’s community peace officer and the local RCMP detachment were contacted last week by a complainant concerned that there was a spill or a sour gas leak at a business immediately west of town.
Driving through the area last Wednesday, the caller thought a pungent smell of rotten eggs — which can, among other things, be indicative of the sour gas hydrogen sulfide — was emanating from a business's yard, prompting the person to report the concern to local authorities.
Sundre's peace officer, Kevin Heerema, said he attended the scene, where staff were aware of a smell that by the time he arrived had largely dissipated in the wind.
“I was assured they don’t typically have anything there that requires an emergency response plan from the government,” he said, adding there were no plans to evacuate the area.
Additionally, no one on the scene was exhibiting any detrimental health side effects generally associated with the inhalation of a potentially deadly substance such as hydrogen sulfide, he said.
“If it was sour, there’d be people feeling adverse effects,” he said, adding no one experienced a medical emergency and that no hazardous material response was requested.
“I’m not concerned.”
Following his initial check of the site, Heerema said he returned soon afterwards with gas sensing equipment, that did not register any trace elements of a gas leak.
“Our sensors didn’t pick up anything that’s of public concern,” he said, adding unpleasant smells reminiscent of rotten eggs and other stenches emanating from the industrial area west of Sundre are not uncommon.
“If there was a reason for concern, we’d definitely act on it,” he said, urging anyone who might be worried about a potential gas leak to promptly file a report.
Anyone who is concerned about a potential gas leak should contact their respective municipalities as well as — depending on the severity of the situation — emergency services, he said.
“If you suspect a large leak, you want to get 911 involved.”
The Town of Sundre’s office can be reached at 403-638-3551, while Mountain View County residents can call 403-335-3311.
