Origin of Natural Gas Smell Discovered

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Muskingum County officials have identified the source of a strong smell in the City of Zanesville.

Public Information Officer Jennifer Hiestand says the natural gas smell was caused by old steel scrap pipelines in the scrapyard at Polk Scrap Iron and Metal Company.

This scrap pipe has old gas odorant absorbed in the steel of the pipeline.  The wind was blowing from NW to SE, which carried the old odorant through the air.  There are no hazards, no active pipelines involved and no safety concerns.  The gas companies have facilities in the area and checked their pipelines and found no hazards.

The Ohio EPA and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio are working with authorities to neutralize the odor.

It all started around 9:30 Thursday morning when the Zanesville Fire Department received reports of a strong smell of natural gas in the city, south of I-70.  Leak detection units were dispatched to check the area.

Officials did not order any evacuations, but some organizations did close and allow their employees to go home for the day.