Illinois issues citations for 8,000-gallon NH3 leak

Winnebago, Ill. — The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is investigating the June 4 release of 8,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia from a storage tank at Conserv FS in Winnebago County in northern Illinois. The release reportedly went on for 12 hours after a tanker truck owned by Schoff Farm Service Inc. (SFS) hit a valve on an ammonia loading rack at the Conserv FS facility near Winnebago, Ill. Authorities said emergency responders issued an advisory to local residents to shelter in place, while firefighters used about 100,000 gallons of water to control the spread of the ammonia cloud. A specialized hazardous materials response team in Level A protective suits worked into the early morning on June 5 to try to stop the leak. “They weren’t able to completely stop the release, but they got it slowed to the point it wasn’t releasing nearly as rapidly,” Win-Bur-Sew Fire District Chief Don Crawford told Green Markets. “We are guessing about 8,000 gallons were in a 26,000 gallon storage tank, which was approximately 30 percent full.” Crawford said no evacuations were necessary, but residents downwind from the scene were advised to stay inside and keep their doors and windows closed. IEPA has issued citations against Conserv FS and SFS for several violations of the Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations and the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, and has also asked the Illinois Attorney General’s Office to obtain a court order that would require both companies to contain and remove ammonia-impacted waters and soils that continue to pose a threat of water pollution; review the design and safety features of chemical storage and loading/unloading areas for deficiencies that could lead to future releases; and implement additional corrective and remediation measures as determined appropriate. Crawford reported that there was minimal dispersal of the vapor cloud beyond the farm service plant, but ammonia-contaminated water did flow into a nearby Kent Creek and caused a fish kill in a private pond downstream from the plant. Local reports said Conserv built makeshift dams on June 5 to try to contain any remaining water on the site, and also installed an aerator in the pond to help dissipate ammonia.