Latest Breaking News

Omaha Steve

(99,911 posts) Sat Jun 23, 2018, 07:39 PM Jun 2018

Extent of oil spill, its cause still unclear as cleanup continues in Doon, Iowa

Source: Omaha World Herald

DOON, Iowa (AP) — Crews were scrambling Saturday to clean up a BNSF oil train derailment in northwest Iowa that dumped crude oil into floodwaters, while officials seek to get a handle on the extent of the spill and its cause.

Thirty-three oil tanker cars derailed Friday just south of Doon in Lyon County, leaking oil into surrounding floodwaters from the swollen Little Rock River. BNSF spokesman Andy Williams said Saturday that the cause of the derailment hadn't yet been determined, but a disaster proclamation issued by Gov. Kim Reynolds for Lyon and three other counties placed the blame on rain-fueled flooding.

Some officials have speculated that floodwaters eroded soil beneath the train track. The nearby Little Rock River rose rapidly after heavy rain Wednesday and Thursday.

The amount of oil spilled also wasn't known by Saturday afternoon, Williams said, but he added that officials hoped to have a better idea once they're able to reach the derailed oil tankers.

FULL story at link below photo.

In Doon, Iowa, Friday, June 22, 2018, roughly 31 cars derailed after the tracks reportedly collapsed due to saturation from flood waters from adjacent Little Rock River.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/iowa/extent-of-oil-spill-its-cause-still-unclear-as-cleanup/article_66b05b81-42d6-5036-b207-f22eae246109.html

18 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Extent of oil spill, its cause still unclear as cleanup continues in Doon, Iowa (Original Post) Omaha Steve Jun 2018 OP

Someone is going to loose his or her Job. Wellstone ruled Jun 2018 #1

Many heavy oil filled triain cars traveling over flood satuated rails. good lawd. why even try!! riversedge Jun 2018 #15

Wow,things have really changed Wellstone ruled Jun 2018 #18

Why would they be running a train through defacto7 Jun 2018 #2

Because of money... IthinkThereforeIAM Jun 2018 #3

If they say 30,000 i bet it's bluestarone Jun 2018 #4

Each oil car holds about 30,000 gallons.n/t. Scruffy1 Jun 2018 #5

Interesting snips... KY_EnviroGuy Jun 2018 #6

oh hell, it was tar sands oil onethatcares Jun 2018 #7

Repugs will claim it improves water quality.....not to worry. KY_EnviroGuy Jun 2018 #8

They'll also say justgamma Jun 2018 #10

It's not an "oil spill" - it's Freedom Lubrication! hatrack Jun 2018 #9

870,000 liters, or about 230,000 gallons n/t moondust Jun 2018 #11

This amount. Just heard about the spill on NPR and checked WTOP website and estimate is 230,000 gal. sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #13

Quick, call Steve King. I'm sure he won't give a shit. mountain grammy Jun 2018 #12

One would think it dawned on the rail officials to be wary of using those tracks due to flooding. sprinkleeninow Jun 2018 #14

This message was self-deleted by its author IthinkThereforeIAM Jun 2018 #16

More info from a previous thread (thanks, IthinkThereforeIAM) KY_EnviroGuy Jun 2018 #17

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)

1. Someone is going to loose his or her Job.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 07:58 PM

Jun 2018

riversedge

(70,488 posts)

15. Many heavy oil filled triain cars traveling over flood satuated rails. good lawd. why even try!!

Reply to Wellstone ruled (Reply #1)

Sun Jun 24, 2018, 04:45 AM

Jun 2018

Someone or someones are to blame for NOT looking into to this situation.

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)

18. Wow,things have really changed

Reply to riversedge (Reply #15)

Sun Jun 24, 2018, 01:02 PM

Jun 2018

when it comes to questionable Rail Trackage. Believe there is a Track Rule in place that a Hi-Railer with a Section Foreman needs to be a certain distance ahead of any Train Carrying Crude over Tracks that might be impaired in any way. This Train was carrying Tar Sand Crap,the worst of the worst.

Noticed on You Tube Footage,the balance of the Oil Cars are abandoned as of yesterday afternoon. Today that area is expected to get another 2-6 inches of rain. Going to be years cleaning up this one.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)

2. Why would they be running a train through

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 08:06 PM

Jun 2018

a flooded area anyway? Wouldn't it make sense that the tracks foundation would be undermined? Dumb decision.

IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,078 posts)

3. Because of money...

Reply to defacto7 (Reply #2)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 08:10 PM

Jun 2018

... and local estimates (unofficial) put it at over 30,000 gallons of crude spreading everywhere the flood waters are.

bluestarone

(17,152 posts)

4. If they say 30,000 i bet it's

Reply to IthinkThereforeIAM (Reply #3)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 08:18 PM

Jun 2018

Over 100,000!!!! This is fucking unbelievable!!!! People just don't care anymore!!!

Scruffy1

(3,257 posts)

5. Each oil car holds about 30,000 gallons.n/t.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 08:38 PM

Jun 2018

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,505 posts)

6. Interesting snips...

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 08:41 PM

Jun 2018

(snip)

The train was carrying tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to Stroud, Oklahoma, for ConocoPhillips. ConocoPhillips spokesman Daren Beaudo said each tanker can hold more than 25,000 gallons of oil. He did not know how much had spilled.

Beaudo also did not know whether the derailed oil cars were the safer, newer tankers intended to help prevent leaks in the event of an accident.

The safer design cars have been implemented at a faster pace after the deadly derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Canada.

In this case, one would think these tracks should have been inspected prior to trains using them - particularly those hauling hazardous materials.

onethatcares

(16,217 posts)

7. oh hell, it was tar sands oil

Reply to KY_EnviroGuy (Reply #6)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 09:38 PM

Jun 2018

that stuff is completely safe so no worries.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,505 posts)

8. Repugs will claim it improves water quality.....not to worry.

Reply to onethatcares (Reply #7)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 09:44 PM

Jun 2018

Hell, you can drink it or put it in your gas tank - what more could we ask for?

I think they call it the Prosperity Environment..... ..........

justgamma

(3,667 posts)

10. They'll also say

Reply to KY_EnviroGuy (Reply #8)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 10:24 PM

Jun 2018

see that's why we need pipelines. I can hear them now.

hatrack

(59,609 posts)

9. It's not an "oil spill" - it's Freedom Lubrication!

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 09:56 PM

Jun 2018

Now those floodwaters will really flow smoothly.

moondust

(20,033 posts)

11. 870,000 liters, or about 230,000 gallons n/t

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sat Jun 23, 2018, 11:10 PM

Jun 2018

sprinkleeninow

(20,272 posts)

13. This amount. Just heard about the spill on NPR and checked WTOP website and estimate is 230,000 gal.

Reply to moondust (Reply #11)

Sun Jun 24, 2018, 02:18 AM

Jun 2018

😞

mountain grammy

(26,677 posts)

12. Quick, call Steve King. I'm sure he won't give a shit.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Jun 24, 2018, 12:17 AM

Jun 2018

sprinkleeninow

(20,272 posts)

14. One would think it dawned on the rail officials to be wary of using those tracks due to flooding.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Jun 24, 2018, 02:23 AM

Jun 2018

Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)

IthinkThereforeIAM This message was self-deleted by its author.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,505 posts)

17. More info from a previous thread (thanks, IthinkThereforeIAM)

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Sun Jun 24, 2018, 09:56 AM

Jun 2018

Check out the photo slide show at the link below.

Source: Sioux Falls Argus Leader
Link: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2018/06/23/bnsf-estimated-230-000-gallons-oil-spilled-derailment-doon-iowa-little-rock-river-flood/728628002/

What a mess. Looking through the slide show, I see farms, commercial facilities, trailer parks, playgrounds and other areas under flood waters that will be contaminated by this spill into the Little Rock River. This will be a long, very nasty cleanup.

I wonder if flood insurance includes coverage of decontamination costs from chemicals in the water?.......

Reply to this discussion