Iowa oil spill: Railroad track reopened at site of Doon train derailment, oil leak

Associated Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Train derails in northwest Iowa Heavy rain pounded northwest Iowa, causing the Rock River to flood. The flooding may be to blame for a train derailment that caused an oil spill.

DOON, Ia. (AP) — BNSF Railway says it's reopened a track where 32 tank cars derailed, spilling thousands of gallons of crude oil in northwest Iowa.

Spokesman Andy Williams says a train ran down the repaired line near Doon around 10 p.m. Monday.

An estimated 230,000 gallons (870,619 liters) of crude oil spilled Saturday into floodwaters of the Little Rock River from 14 of the cars. He says much of the oil spilled is contained to a small triangular area between the track and two nearby roads. Hazardous materials and environmental experts are using skimmers to recover additional oil.

City and water district officials downstream in Iowa and Nebraska have been assured by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources that the oil will be contained before reaching the Missouri River at Sioux City, Iowa.

Previous coverage:

'Everything came at once': Rock River brings flooding, oil to Rock Valley

Gov. Reynolds visits site of oil spill, Rock Valley floods