Gas Purge in Pawhuska Draws Federal and State Investigators

A gas surge on the grounds of the Pawhuska school district campus resulted in the cancellation of classes for the remainder of the week.

The surge drew the attention of federal and state officials as they investigated the incident.

On hand were representatives of the EPA Region 6 office in Dallas along with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the Oklahoma Water Resources board.

The State Department of Environmental Quality was there too but spokeswoman Erin Hatfield explained it was not in an official capacity.

“DEQ doesn’t have jurisdiction but is operating in a support role,” she said in an email to OK Energy Today.

The State Fire Marshall and the Oklahoma Emergency Management officials were also on hand.