Dangerous Anhydrous Ammonia Tank Recovered from Missouri River, near Claysville
Environmental News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The 1,500-gallon tank, including its wheeled chassis, was reported floating downstream Friday afternoon. Since the tank contained anhydrous ammonia, a toxic and potentially deadly chemical, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR) requested EPA’s support with recovery and disposal.
Boat operations are treacherous when the river condition is at flood stage, as it was Friday. With reports that the river levels would be lower and safer on Saturday, EPA Region 7 On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) James Johnson and Joe Davis and MoDNR OSC Sarah Hearne developed a midday Saturday recovery plan. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) and Jefferson City Fire Department’s Boat Division were able to secure the tank Friday. They found the tank was intact with no evidence of a leak.
“Since the Missouri River was at flood stage on Friday, it was unsafe for sustained boat operations to secure and remove the tank from the waters,” said EPA OSC Davis. “Working with MoDNR, we determined it was best to secure the tank overnight and wait for safer river conditions on Saturday.”
On Saturday, March 20, Johnson and Davis met with Hearne and Missouri Farmers Association (MFA) Assistant Manager Ben Steinman at the Missouri boat access ramp about 4 miles downstream from the tank. Working together, the team launched EPA’s boat and successfully retrieved the tank. The team assessed the condition of the tank, estimated the volume of its contents, and towed the tank 4 miles back downstream to the boat ramp.
MSHP troopers Nicholas Borgmeyer and Tyler O’Brien worked with MoDNR, MFA, Jefferson City Fire Department, and Kendalls & Pro Tow Services to remove the tank from the river, secure it, and transport the tank to MFA’s facility. The Jefferson City Police Department assisted in keeping the public safe by closing the ramp until the tank was removed.
“Without the collaboration from all teams, removing the tank from the Missouri River would not have been as successful,” said MoDNR OSC Hearne. “It is great to see how federal, state and local responders and local businesses can work safely together to resolve a problem.”
Once recovered, MFA agreed to store the tank at its location in Jefferson City. MoDNR and MFA agreed to work together to attempt to find the tank owner. MFA will keep possession of the tank if no owner can be found.
In Missouri, to report an abandoned tank or container during flooding, or if you find sealed drums, tanks or barrels of unknown contents, call MoDNR’s Environmental Emergency Response 24-hour spill line at 573-634-2436.
# # #
Learn more about EPA Region 7
View all Region 7 news releases
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7
Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7