A meeting was held on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 with the affected stakeholders to review the history, results to date and to discuss a course of action to find the source of the heavy odor in the area of Coolidge Highway and 14 Mile Road. The stakeholders present were the City of Royal Oak Fire Department, City of Birmingham Fire Department, Royal Oak Department of Public Services (DPS), Birmingham DPS, Royal Oak Engineering Department, Birmingham Engineering Department, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Oakland County Water Resources and the Great Lakes Water Authority.
According to the group, the areas where the odor has been most noticeable is near Coolidge Highway and 14 Mile Road, Nakota Road and Woodland Avenue, just southeast of 14 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue and in Birmingham at Eaton Academy School, Embury United Methodist Church and along Dunstable Road. The odor was first noticed on Oct. 9, 2017 as Consumers Energy had a large call volume reporting the odor in the areas of 14 Mile and Crooks Roads and at Normandy and Crooks Roads. The heavy odor was next reported on October 26, November 5, November 7, November 8, and November 13th .
Consumers Energy has not detected and natural gas at each of these locations. The source of the odor has not been pinpointed as of this time. It is difficult to ascertain the location as the odor is intermittent. The HazMat Team from the Royal Oak Fire Department is employing specialized sampling equipment throughout the area in hopes of trying to pinpoint what could be causing the odor.
The team is going through the area this week. If you smell gas in your home, treat it as an emergency and call Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Questions can be directed to Jim Cook, Assistant Fire Chief, Royal Oak Fire Department at 248-246- 3802.