Neighbors Frustrated Over Petroleum Odors As State Warns Others To Report The Smell

LAYTON, Utah — State, county and city officials were notifying residents of a neighborhood Tuesday about potential petroleum odors, and were urging them to report the smell as crews attempted to get a handle on its scope and origin.

The notice stated that firefighters tested the vapors—which were first reported in the area of Gentile and Angel streets—and they do not believe they are a fire hazard.

“Based on results to date, we do not believe there is an imminent public health concern,” read the notice sent jointly by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Davis County Health Department and Layton City. “However, if you smell petroleum odors in your home, please report it to the fire department through 9-1-1.”

At least two homeowners, however, told KSL they had experienced some physical symptoms from the smell, and were staying on their own dime at area hotels.

“It’s a chemical that makes you feel like you have the flu or that you have the common cold,” Tyson Hoskins said.

Mark Berger said he first noticed the smell—which he said was similar to acetone—a little over 3 weeks ago in his daughter’s basement bedroom.

Despite trying to vent out the smell, Berger said it never really went away.

“I was worried it was from the pipeline or the gas station near our homes, so we called the health department and fire department and they came out and tested elevated levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and hydrocarbons, including toluene and xylene, which were indicators of fuel, gas or oil.”

Hoskins said crews subsequently dug a massage trench around the pipeline, which runs through his backyard.

“This is the Tesoro pipeline—it runs from Salt Lake City all the way to Spokane, Washington,” Hoskins said. “Everything they’ve done up to this point, they’ve found nothing wrong with the pipeline.”

Hoskins said he is frustrated the problem hasn’t been solved yet.

“There’s no answers,” Hoskins said. “There should have been by now.”

Hoskins also urged neighbors to report odors if they surfaced inside of houses.

The notice stated that petroleum odors had been detected as far away as Kays Creek.

“This is not a chemical you want to deal with,” Hoskins said.