NEW Cooperative, Red Oak, Iowa, on March 11 notified the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) of a release onsite of approximately 1,500 st of UAN 32. The product was discharged into a drainage ditch, then into the East Nishnabotna River. Dead fish were observed but the extent of the fish kill is still to be determined.
DNR Senior Environmental Specialist Wendy Wittrock, who investigated the incident, told The Des Moines Register that the incident involved “a lot of fertilizer” and is likely the largest fertilizer spill she has investigated. Based on current Midwestern retail pricing, the UAN would be valued between $540,000-$615,000.
As of March 14, DNR said clean-up efforts were still underway. It said the product flowed several miles downstream of Red Oak on the East Nishnabotna River, reaching Missouri. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources was notified.
The DNR encouraged private well owners in Montgomery, Page, and Fremont counties with wells in near proximity to the East Nishnabotna River to contact their county health department to test their wells for nitrate. It said this service is free using Iowa’s Grants-to-Counties (GTC) program. The DNR will be providing county health officials with lists of registered private wells that may be vulnerable.
Due to low water levels in the East Nishnabotna, the concentration of the liquid nitrogen fertilizer is higher than during normal stream flows, causing concern for all animals due to high nitrate and urea levels.
Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine Toxicologist Scott Radke recommended that all animals be kept away from the East Nishnabotna River until the plume of contaminant moves out of the area.
The Iowa DNR is working with local, state and federal officials, and will continue to investigate impacts of the spill. DNR reported that the release occurred due to a valve left open on an aboveground storage tank overnight. It said areas of pooled fertilizer were pumped into a vac truck and will be land applied later.
“Upon discovery of the spill, management immediately initiated containment protocols as per our established safety procedures,” NEW Cooperative said in a prepared statement on March 13, cited by The Des Moines Register. “We promptly notified the appropriate local authorities and regulatory agencies and have been working diligently in close cooperation with them ever since.”
Just a few days earlier on March 8, DNR said an Adair County Conservation Officer reported a “red sheen” on an unnamed tributary of the Middle Nodaway River. DNR responded and discovered that diesel had overflowed a vent tube of an above ground storage tank at a farm operation owned by Kading Land Co. Inc.
DNR said the discharged diesel reached a stormwater intake located inside the secondary containment area and continued flowing via field tile, eventually reaching the tributary and then the Middle Nodaway River.
The amount of diesel spilled is unknown. No dead fish have been observed. Staff will continue to work with the responsible party to clean up the spill. The investigation is ongoing.