Iowa DNR News
Environmental Services Division
 
For immediate release                                                                             October 13, 2008
 
TANK RUPTURE RESULTS IN SPILL REACHING MISSISSIPPI RIVER
 
KEOKUK — Up to 200,000 gallons of byproducts associated with the production of corn sweetener reached the Mississippi River after a tank imploded early Monday morning spilling the contents.
 
The incident occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Monday at the Roquette America, Inc., Refinery E facility in Keokuk. The implosion of the tank blew out a sidewall of the facility. The fluid was moving forcefully enough to break a concrete retaining wall and to knock some nearby railroad cars off the tracks.
 
The byproducts entered a ditch that flows to the Mississippi River. There are gates at the outfall near the river that were shut and efforts were taking place on Monday to remove as much of the byproduct as possible.
 
Because of the volume of the Mississippi River, no long-term impact to water quality is expected. There were no signs of a fish kill associated with the spill on Monday. Downstream water users were also advised of the spill.
 
The spill remains under investigation.
 
For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at 515-281-8395.
 
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