Detroit city officials said they are monitoring the Marathon Detroit oil refinery after a power outage at the plant prompted the company to burn off excess gas as a safety measure, the city said Sunday night.
Marathon reported a power outage at the refinery made the “flaring event” necessary, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield said in a statement. Flares are safety devices designed to safely burn excess gases when operating conditions require it.
The flaring produced smoke that prompted concern from residents
The refinery is located on South Oakwood Avenuein southwest, Detroit. Schaefer Road is closed from Interstate 75 to Dix Road as a precaution.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, along with refinery staff, is conducting air quality monitoring at the refinery and in surrounding neighborhoods. Officials said monitoring had not detected gas readings of concern as of Sunday.
The company said on its website Sunday operating conditions at the refinery “have made flaring necessary” and that refinery staff were conducting off-site air monitoring.
“As always, the company’s top priorities are the safety of our employees, responders, the community, and limiting any environmental impact,” the notice said.
The city said they remain in contact with Marathon and state regulators and will provide updates as information becomes available.
Southeast Michigan has had up to 500,000 power outages since Friday’s storm. By Sunday night, DTE Energy reported 85,680 customers, down from 99,743 Sunday evening, without power and Consumers Energy 30, 865 customers in the dark, down from more than 36,000 earlier in the day.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Marathon refinery ‘flaring event’ monitored by Detroit officials
