Memphis Light, Gas and Water has been informed that Ergon Terminaling, Inc. will begin the process of removing approximately 400 gallons of ethyl mercaptan (the odorant injected into natural gas) from its President's Island facility at 7 a.m. tomorrow. During the process, area residents may smell a "natural gas" or "rotten egg" odor as the chemical is transferred from a 1000 gallon horizontal above ground storage tank into a portable storage tank that will be removed from the site and disposed of by Pollution Control Industries of Memphis. The transfer process is expected to be complete by 7 p.m. tomorrow.

Although every effort will be made to prevent and control emissions of the ethyl mercaptan, it is possible that receptors within a mile radius of the facility may detect the odor. Presence of the odor should be expected as part of the ethyl mercaptan transfer process. Questions regarding this process should contact Jim Temple, Media Relations, Ergon Terminaling, Inc., at 601 933 3000. However, customers with utility-related concerns are encouraged to contact MLGW at 544-MLGW (6549).

MLGW is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 420,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County with some of the lowest combined rates in the U.S.