After weeks of waiting for answers, the City of Newton received a summary of test results for the mystery gas emissions at the Fox Ridge Development. In August, Kansas Gas Service detected a flammable gas in the soil while conducting testing at the new development situated on top of the former Fox Ridge Golf Course. The detection of the gas prompted county and state emergency declarations, evacuations, as well as gas service being shut off to 30 households. KDHE contracted a service to test the gas, and after weeks, the city has an answer as to what it is: methane.
“They state that there is no hazard to human health,” City Director of Communications Erin McDaniel said. “The primary source of the methane is from the breakdown of plant material in the soil.”
Read more: Harvey County Now
