HAMMOND – A sinkhole near Gavit High School may have been caused by a small puncture in a BP pipeline that apparently is leaking into a sewer at 175th and White Oak. According to a report by WJOB radio, Hammond Police Chief Brian Miller said residents reported smelling gas in the area for the past few days. BP officials have told residents in the affected area to fill their drains with water and cover them with wet towels as a way to keep fumes at bay.

            Ron Novak, director of Hammond ‘s Department of Environmental Management, said the the substance found near the leak is a gasoline/diesel fuel mixture that apparently has come from a crude oil pipeline and a pipeline that carries gasoline and diesel fuel.

            Hammond officials are examining a six-inch-diameter sinkhole as the primary source of the underground leak. An excavating crew hired by BP is digging at the intersection.

            Rob Elstro of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management said IDEM is working with the city and BP and has placed booms at the site. Elstro said the leak has had no impact on Hammond ‘s wastewater treatment plant.

            No timetable has been given on how long it will take to fix the leak.