Neighbors voiced frustration towards the response to gas leaks at a metro gas station during a meeting on Thursday night hosted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Some neighbors showing up w/ signs to tonight's @MoDNR meeting dealing with gas leak issues at local gas station pic.twitter.com/2HsgGGSG4x
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 27, 2016
The Inner City Oil Company gas station on 31st Street is facing accusations of having leaky gas tanks and is currently facing a lawsuit from the state to find ways to solve the situation.
Willie Gaston, who has lived near the gas station for many years, said he first discovered the gas leaks back in 2006.
Since then, Gaston said he has experienced breathing and vision issues he believes are connected to the gas leak.
"People are still sick here!" - Man shouts during @MoDNR meeting on gas leak issues at local gas station pic.twitter.com/iByims8tPa
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 27, 2016
Gaston has also seen most of his neighbors move away in response to the gas leak, with many homes on his street now sitting abandoned.
“There’s three or four people on the block now. The block used to be full," he explained.
Despite state officials coming to test and monitor the area following the gas leak, Gaston said many problems continue: from gas fumes still being present at night, to some complaining about the gas being in their water supply.
“It's still going on,” said Gaston. “I smell it all night long. You can smell it in your house after two or three o'clock in the morning."
"We want answers!" - neighbors shouting. Organizers losing control of @MoDNR information meeting on gas leaks pic.twitter.com/eKv3XQDSuw
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 27, 2016
The frustration from fellow neighbors was on full display during the DNR meeting on Thursday.
The gathering was intended to provide information to the community about health concerns and environmental impacts from gas leaks. However, much of the night saw neighbors interrupting the state officials and voicing their complaints.
“You’re not going to say this property is clean!” shouted one man during the meeting. “This is not what this is all about. We're not going to sit here for this!"
Others held up signs during the informational session reading, “Quit Contaminating Us” and “Quit Killing Us."
Plenty of neighbors fed up w/ response to gas leaks. @MoDNR presentation being met w/anger. pic.twitter.com/mAsikMqnb3
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 27, 2016
Several neighbors voiced frustrations of not having concerns heard and not getting answers to questions over the health impact from the gas leaks.
“How many times are they supposed to listen to that over and over and over again?” said Roger Woods, who attended the meeting and lives close to the gas station. “It's redundant. This has happened more than once. These people are getting the same answers over and over again.”
Afterwards, event organizers spoke with 41 Action News about the response from the community.
“I absolutely can understand the frustration,” said Leanne Tippett Mosby, the MO Department of Natural Resources Division of Environmental Quality Director. “That's why we're here tonight to try and provide whatever information we have.”
"We're sitting on an industrial dump!" - neighbor speaks to @MoDNR about gas station gas leaks pic.twitter.com/H0NdX6gYGW
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 27, 2016
Mosby explained how resolving the gas leak issues mainly revolves around completing a lawsuit against Zill LLC, which owns the gas station.
“We need the owner of the site to collect more data so that we have enough information to determine the extent of the contamination,” she said. “We're hopeful that we can get some movement on the court action so that we can move forward with these very important steps."
The lawsuit between the state and Zill LLC continues to be caught up in litigation.
It’s unknown when the lawsuit will be resolved.
As the community waits for the gas leak situation to be resolved, Willie Gaston hopes a solution comes soon.
“I hope we can come to some kind of agreement on this situation and settle this out and be done with it,” he said.
As @MoDNR meeting goes into its third hour, much of the crowd has left. Plenty of frustration voiced by residents pic.twitter.com/xHW4v3Aumf
— Tom Dempsey (@KCTomDempsey) October 28, 2016
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at Tom.Dempsey@KSHB.com.
