Abbotsford council wants Kinder Morgan to meet with residents affected by an oil spill at the pipeline company's storage facility on Sumas Mountain.

About 110,000 litres of crude oil leaked out at the site and was subsequently contained and mopped up on Jan. 24.

Nearby residents in the Auguston area complained of noxious fumes the day of the spill, and confirmation of the incident took place only several hours after Abbotsford police started getting reports of strong "gas" odours at 4:30 a.m.

Nearby Auguston Traditional Elementary School kept its 342 students indoors for much of the day, and about six children were taken home by their parents.

Abbotsford Coun. Pat Ross noted some residents received letters from Kinder Morgan with information about the spill but the details were "vague."

Kinder Morgan has now invited the council to tour the company's Sumas Mountain site on Saturday morning, but Ross stressed the importance of the company meeting directly with residents.

"People who live there are worried and concerned, and they deserve to have details," she said.

"There are people up there that still want answers. I still have lots of questions myself."

Following the spill, Kinder Morgan issued a press release saying there were no health threats - other than nuisance odours - to residents.

But details about why the spill took place

and how similar incidents will be prevented need to be addressed with residents, said Ross.

Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service Chief Don Beer said an emergency response plan is in place with Kinder Morgan for serious incidents, but communication could have better during the recent event.

Council unanimously agreed Monday to ask Kinder Morgan to hold a public meeting at Auguston elementary within a month.

Kinder Morgan spokeswoman Lexa Hobenshield said once the spill investigation is complete, the company will be able to answer residents' questions.

The review is expected to take several weeks, she said in an email on Tuesday.

"We will be in a position to circle back with the community, which we have always planned to do. It still remains to be determined what this looks like," she wrote.

Concerned Auguston and Straiton residents are holding a public meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m., at Straiton Community Hall, 4698 Upper Sumas Mountain Rd., Abbotsford.

Straiton area resident John Vissers said Kinder Morgan and council were invited to hear concerns and improve communication between the pipeline transportation company and the community.

Some councillors may attend but Kinder Morgan has not responded to the invite, said Vissers.

"We are trying to encourage Kinder Morgan to be a cooperative community participant; they are a big part of our community.

"We think it would be so constructive for [the company] to dialogue with us."

RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com