Gas leak at BP refinery in Whiting causes odor in Chicago area
WHITING, Ind. (CBS) — BP responded after a gas leak from one of its small underground supply lines at its refinery in Whiting, Indiana, caused an odor in the Chicago area.
A spokesperson for the refinery said on Thursday that it experienced a release from a pipeline that transports material within its tank field. Crews responded and identified the leak, which has since stopped. Vac trucks were also on-site for cleanup.
The company said additional air monitoring was set up as a precaution, and no elevated readings were detected.
The stench was particularly noticeable in downtown Whiting Thursday—smacking anyone who approached across the face. Approaching the refinery, the stench got worse and worse.
The odor suggested a combination of gas and antifreeze, and people who live nearby were concerned about the impact it could have.
Whiting, Indiana, founded in 1889, has a population of less than 5,000.
"It's such a quaint town," said Nancy Baranski of Whiting. "It's just—it's beautiful."
Whiting is also best known for its oil refinery, and people there are used to odors.
"I would say it is normal for it to smell in the area in Whiting," said Valerie Kristek of Whiting.
But there is a difference between being used to odors and what people were smelling on Thursday.
"We're immune to it," said Baranski. "But this one here today? Oh no, I don't know what that is."
When Baranski woke up Thursday morning, she said she was subjected to the worst thing she had ever smelled in her 20 years in Whiting.
"I can't even say, like maybe gas or some kind of gas or something," she said. "I don't know."
Baranski also expressed disappointment in the fact that a problem at the oil refinery means suffering for everyone around it.
"Why should we have to pay for that?" she said. "You know, our lungs and everything."
While the release was stopped, the smell caused some to walk around covering their noses.
"Today it smells horrible. It smells like something you shouldn't be breathing in," Kristek said. "It smells awful, unhealthy."
Kristek was most concerned about how the gas leak could affect people.
"I'm concerned for everyone who has grown up here who's lived here their whole life," she said. "Who knows what kind of health conditions we're going have going on later on?"
For those who call Whiting home, they hope the odor doesn't rear its ugly head again in the future.
"I just really pray that they get it together, because, you know, we don't have to leave our home just because of that problem," said Baranski, "and it almost seems like that is what we're going to have to do."
Previous leak in January
A previous leak on Jan. 24 led to an influx of calls to the Village of Tinley Park 911 centers reporting a natural gas odor outside. Suburbs east of Tinley Park also received reports.
No one was hurt, but some residents in Whiting said they'd experienced headaches because of the sulfur-like smell in January.
