Wisc. Train Derails, Spills 18,000+ Gallons of Ethanol Into Mississippi

"Of 32 BNSF train cars that hurtled off the tracks near Alma, Wis., on Saturday, five of them broke open and spilled at least 18,000 gallons of ethanol into the Mississippi River, the railroad company said.

Four damaged tanker cars leaked an estimated five to 500 gallons of ethanol each and a fifth one released about 18,000 gallons, BNSF said in a statement. A full tank car holds about 30,000 gallons.

The effect of the spill on river habitat below Lake Pepin remains unknown, but reports after previous spills indicate that ethanol alone is less toxic than ethanol mixed with gasoline."
 
Pat Pheifer reports for the Minneapolis Star Tribune November 8, 2015.

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"Evacuations After Wisconsin Crude Oil Train Derails" (AP)