Ohio Wal-Mart closes because of methane gas fumes
GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — A Wal-Mart store built atop a landfill closed during the busiest shopping time of the year because of a methane gas leak.
Employees at the store in suburban Cleveland reported a bad smell, evacuated customers and shut the doors Tuesday night.
Wal-Mart says it doesn't know when the store will reopen, and fire officials say the methane fumes are not enough to be dangerous.
The retailer is part of the new City View shopping center, which is built on top of an old landfill.
Developer John McGill said faulty floor drains installed by Wal-Mart's engineer had been emitting sewer gas, which typically includes mixtures of methane and rotten egg-scented hydrogen sulfide. He said the problem would be corrected.
"It's a minimal issue," McGill said. Wal-Mart "acted on the side of safety."
Wal-Mart officials and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said the source of the methane had not been identified.
Mia Masten, spokeswoman for Wal-Mart's Midwest division, said she did not know how long the store would be closed and that employees will continue to be paid.
"Trust me, it's the holiday season, and we want to reopen as soon as possible," she said.
Ohio EPA spokesman Mike Settles said an enforcement action is pending against McGill because regulators say he has not corrected seeping water from a hill on which the development sits.
Bill Skowronski, the EPA's district chief for Northeast Ohio, said methane is not toxic but can cause an explosion.
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Information from: The Plain Dealer, www.cleveland.com
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GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio — A Wal-Mart store built atop a landfill closed during the busiest shopping time of the year because of a methane gas leak.
Employees at the store in suburban Cleveland reported a bad smell, evacuated customers and shut the doors Tuesday night.
Wal-Mart says it doesn't know when the store will reopen, and fire officials say the methane fumes are not enough to be dangerous.
The retailer is part of the new City View shopping center, which is built on top of an old landfill.
Developer John McGill said faulty floor drains installed by Wal-Mart's engineer had been emitting sewer gas, which typically includes mixtures of methane and rotten egg-scented hydrogen sulfide. He said the problem would be corrected.
"It's a minimal issue," McGill said. Wal-Mart "acted on the side of safety."
Wal-Mart officials and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said the source of the methane had not been identified.
Mia Masten, spokeswoman for Wal-Mart's Midwest division, said she did not know how long the store would be closed and that employees will continue to be paid.
"Trust me, it's the holiday season, and we want to reopen as soon as possible," she said.
Ohio EPA spokesman Mike Settles said an enforcement action is pending against McGill because regulators say he has not corrected seeping water from a hill on which the development sits.
Bill Skowronski, the EPA's district chief for Northeast Ohio, said methane is not toxic but can cause an explosion.
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Information from: The Plain Dealer, www.cleveland.com
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Re: Ohio Wal-Mart closes because of methane gas fumes
Mon, December 18, 2006 - 10:21 AMWoops, big mistake to buy cheap land to build a Wal-Mart. Then again we had two arsonists in my area burn 2 Walmarts.....The place they started it? In the fake plant section apparently those things catch like pine needles.
