Nearly 5,000 gallons of ammonia removed from from NE Iowa train derailment site

(ABC 6 News) – 8/31/21 – Crews continued to work throughout the night to remove 4,900 gallons of aqueous ammonia from a damaged tank car. Aqueous ammonia does not pose a threat to public health. The ammonia water was relocated for hazardous materials disposal. Four remaining tank cars of anhydrous ammonia are intact and being staged for their content’s removal.

The incident is being downgraded from an emergency scene to industrial work site. New Hampton Fire Department has turned the location over to Canadian Pacific for clean up and recovery.

Iowa DNR and EPA will continue to monitor operations. Should the situation change in the future, local responders will be back on scene to support operations and provide public updates.

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8/30/21 5:30 p.m.- According to the New Hampton Fire Department, crews are making significant progress removing cars.

The railcar of concern has been evaluated and is not deemed to be a hazard any longer.

Officials are asking the public continue to stay clear of this area due to the rapidly deteriorating condition of the gravel due to flooding.

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(ABC 6 News) – 8/30/21 – According to the New Hampton Fire Department crews are continuing mitigation efforts where a train derailed over the weekend.

220th St remains closed to thru traffic. The public is still asked to avoid the area, detours are posted.

A no-fly zone has also been issued for a 3-mile radius and up to 3,000 feet.

"Due to safety reasons and our operational drones we are trying to clear the air to make sure there are no incidents."

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Families in the New Hampton area are allowed to return home after a train derailment caused authorities to evacuate the area.

Just after 4 p.m. Saturday a train derailed a few miles southwest of New Hampton. Multiple crews responded to help with mitigation after anhydrous ammonia and diesel fuel leaked in the area.

"Our current weather modeling including wind speed and direction continues to show no danger to the City of New Hampton and its residents. This is ever-changing and we will advise the public if conditions change. The Iowa DNR is on scene monitoring water quality downstream."

The Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency said a train conductor and engineer were taken to the hospital in New Hampton and have since been released.

The public is asked to continue to avoid the area. 220th St remains closed between Jasper Ave and Ivanhoe Ave.