CALGARY – Residents of a picturesque street along the Bow River are frustrated with the slow progress of a contamination clean-up.
A gas leak at a nearby Gas Plus station has forced many from their homes on Bow Crescent N.W.
And while many residents met with provincial officials last week, many say it’s too little, too late.
Augustine Yip lives on the block; he’s been using an air cleaner around the block to clear any gasoline vapours that seep into his home.
“They’re not being a responsible neighbour, a responsible business.”
In May of 2010, the Gas Plus along Bowness Road reported a gas clean of between 7,000 and 9,000 litres to Alberta Environment.
By August, residents living northeast of the gas station began smelling fumes. Alberta Environment ordered Gas Plus to map out the extent of the contamination and submit a report to them so clean-up plans could begin.
But by Mid-November, Alberta Environment says it had still not received a plan and slapped Gas Plus with an environmental protection order in December.
“The company has been in compliance with the order and working towards achieving the objectives in the order,” says Cara Tobin, Alberta Environment.
Alberta Environment, Alberta Health Services and Alana Delong, the area MLA, met with around 30 residents last Thursday to discuss the problem. Alberta Environment says it was able to asker some questions.
Six sampling wells have also been drilled along the block; results from those are expected next week and will be able to determine how far the gas plume has travelled and if it’s more concentrated in some areas.
“It’s our hope that we get the remediation work as soon as possible,” says Cara.
For Sale signs are now lining the block as many residents walk away from their brand new dream homes.
Other homes have been deemed uninhabitable.
Augustine Yip has hired a private engineering company to run tests on his property. If those come back showing dangerous levels of gasoline he says his family will also have to move.
“We’re across the street from three houses that have been deemed uninhabitable. It’s mind blowing to us. Don’t ever build or buy a house anywhere near a gas station.”
Global News did contact Gas Plus, however officials were unavailable for comment.
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