|
|
LAWRENCE -- A University of Kansas official and a state environmental official will update the Hutchinson City Commission on the natural gas explosions that occurred in early 2001. Lee Allison, director of the Kansas Geological Survey, based at KU, and Ron Hammerschmidt, director of the Division of Environment of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will brief commissioners at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at City Hall, 125 E. Ave. B.
Their visit comes two days before the one-year anniversary of the gas explosions that destroyed two downtown businesses and a mobile home and claimed the lives of both mobile home occupants. The explosions are believed to have resulted from natural gas leaking from the Yaggy gas storage field northwest of Hutchinson. The gas erupted from old brine wells beneath the city.
In the past year, 57 wells have been drilled to vent the natural gas trapped in the ground. As a result, gas levels beneath the city now are minimal, and Allison says the city is safe. He added that the Geological Survey has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy for a three-year, $4 million study of the original problem.
-30-
This site is maintained by University Relations, the public relations office for the University of Kansas Lawrence campus. Copyright 2002, the University of Kansas Office of University Relations. Images and information may be reused with notice of copyright, but not altered. kurelations@ku.edu, (785) 864-3256.