Sullivan, Ind.-Indiana State Police are still investigating the possibility that tampering led to the derailment of 22 of 70 top-loading hopper cars filled with potash fertilizer last Wednesday at the end of a spur line near here. One of the investigators, Sgt. Joe Watts, told Green Markets that “there isn’t any indication of the cause at this point, but we’re still looking at that probability.” Watts said he expects the investigation to be concluded by mid-week. He said the cars contained potash owned by several different companies, and he wasn’t certain of the amount that could be salvaged by clean-up crews. The cars, coupled together and parked for long-term storage by the Indiana Rail Road Co., for some reason left this spot and traveled southwest nearly four miles to the end of the spur line in eastern Sullivan County. At that point the lead car struck a metal barrier at the end of the track, causing 22 of the cars to derail and overturn. The Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management made an initial assessment at the scene and police and rail officials reported there was no reason to believe the spilled fertilizer would cause health concerns. Watts said the cars had been parked on the unused railroad spur of the former No. 3 Kendall Mine since June 12. Railroad officials have offered a $20,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of those responsible if the derailment proves to be a criminal act.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain