SNOHOMISH — An inspector from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency was unable to find the cause of an odor that made people close their windows and doors just to get away from it in this past Labor Day weekend.
The regional agency received 30 complaints this weekend, mostly from the Clearview area. After checking wind patterns and mapping the locations of the complaints, it is believed the odor originated from the Snohomish Valley, supervisor inspector Mario Pedroza said.
“We don’t have definite answers,” he said.
One possibility is that the smell could be caused by an agricultural practice, he said.
Complaints from these types of practices are common and they happen frequently each year. The odor was gone Tuesday afternoon, ending the investigation for the day.
“There were no odors to trace back,” he said.
The agency was able to eliminate King County’s Brightwater treatment plant, Qualco Energy and Pacific Top Soils because they were downwind from the complaints, Pedroza said.
The Brightwater treatment plant could have not caused the smell because it is not operational, said Annie Kolb-Nelson, spokeswoman for the King County wastewater treatment division.
The plant, on Highway 9 near State Route 522, is scheduled to open Sept. 24.
Pedroza said the clean air agency’s investigation is scheduled to continue Wednesday. The inspector plans to talk to farmers to see if they were spraying manure on those days, he said.
People living by 69th Drive NE said the smell was stronger than manure.
“This is times 20 in intensity. It just smells so bad,” said Kindra Shenoy, who lives in The Ridge neighborhood.
The odor could be described as similar to raw sewage or a dead animal, she said.
Kerrie Doramus, a neighbor, said she first noticed the smell Thursday as she left for Whidbey Island. The smell was still there when she returned Sunday.
“It hit you when you opened the door,” Doramus said. “It’s not normal cow manure. Not even close.”
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com
Bad smell?
People may contact the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency if they smell something unusual.
They can call the complaint line at 206-343-8800 ext. 6 or 800-552-3565. Complaints also can be emailed to inspection@pscleanair.org.
The odor must still be present at the time of the call. Also, people can help the investigation by giving the address, direction of the wind and a phone number.
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