Small ammonia leak causes stir at U of N farm

Lincoln, Neb.-A small anhydrous ammonia leak from a tank at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Havelock Farm on the night of April 4 turned out to be a non-event, but officials nonetheless took some of the same precautions they would take for something more serious. According to Agriculture and Natural Resources Institute spokesman Daniel Moser, the Lincoln Fire Department responded to an ammonia smell, and two members of the HazMat crew in protective suits shut off a valve that apparently had not been closed tightly by the supplier. Havelock Farm Manager T.J. McAndrew said the local police closed a street that runs between Highway 6 and Havelock until later that evening. They reported no injuries, and no evacuations were required because there are no homes in the area. McAndrew said that the ammonia tank was taken back to the local co-op and 12 lbs of anhydrous ammonia was found to have been lost, which is well below the reportable amount.