Agtegra Cooperative, Aberdeen, S.D., on May 17 notified North Dakota state agencies that a dry urea fertilizer spill resulted from a vehicle accident in Grant County, according to the N.D. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). No injuries were reported. The incident caused about two tons of fertilizer to enter the Heart River 18 miles southeast of Glen Ullin.
DEQ personnel inspected the site and took water samples and will continue to monitor the investigation and remediation. The DEQ told The Bismarck Tribune the river is not a drinking water source and that the fertilizer should be significantly diluted prior to reaching the nearest drinking water source along the Missouri River. DEQ also cited the high water level of the river as a positive factor in the dilution.