Hazmat Crews Contain Gas Leak After 4,000 Evacuated

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Thousands of people were evacuated Monday after a gas leak at a petroleum refinery near Port Columbus.

NBC 4's Matt Alvarez reported with the FAST FACTS.

Columbus fire and hazmat crews were called to Heartland Petroleum, 4001 E. 5th Ave., at about 8 a.m. on a hydrogen sulfide leak.

Heartland Petroleum is refinery that recycles used oil.

The leak was caused by a break in a piped connection, according to Erin Strouse with the EPA. The rupture caused the hydrogen sulfide's release into the air.

The leak had nothing to do with the plant's plumbing or a ruptured disc inside a processing line, as previously reported.

Authorities closed East 5th Avenue between North Yearling and James roads. East 5th Avenue was reopened to traffic shortly after 2:15 p.m. Fire crews had a 600-foot perimeter around the area.

Authorities started evacuating people from nearby businesses shortly after 8:10 a.m.

Columbus Fire Battalion Chief David Whiting said authorities evacuated a total of 4,000 people.

Workers were cleared to return to buildings about six hours after the leak or shortly before 3 p.m.

Medics were called to the scene at about 8:30 a.m. because people reportedly were having trouble breathing.

Fire crews shut down plant operations and had the leak contained before noon.

Whiting said a gas cloud that was present earlier dissipated and tests showed the air (inside and outside) as safe at noon.

"While the odor can be detected at very low levels, it isn't necessarily harmful ... Today's incident is unrelated and unlike any previously-received complaints, and Ohio EPA is still gathering information at this time. While exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas doesn't necessarily equate to health risk, it can -- in high enough concentrations over long enough periods of time -- potentially cause health effects," the EPA's Strouse said in an e-mail.

The Ohio EPA hasn't issued any "notice of violation" letters to the company; the company has taken corrective measures when Ohio EPA has asked the company to do so.

"The company has cooperated with Ohio EPA and taken voluntary measures to control odors and address concerns, above and beyond what's required of it in its permit," Strouse said in an e-mail.

The EPA said it would do a follow-up in near future.

Whiting said Columbus fire turned the incident over to Heartland Petroleum and the EPA. He said a private contractor will be contracted by Heartland for any clean up required by the EPA.

OSHA is involved and will be doing the investigation, according to Whiting.

One person was transported to OSU Medical Center East. Twelve additional people were treated at the scene. The symptoms include watery eyes and shortness of breath.

COTA busses were called to the scene for those evacuated.

Port Columbus wasn't affected, according to spokesperson Angie Tabor.

STATEMENT FROM HEARTLAND REFINING GROUP
At this facility, we reprocess used oil and produce recycled lube oil.

We anticipate that everyone will be able to return to work tomorrow morning and that we will restart our plant within the week.

No more immediate information was available.

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