DNR is investigating a fertilizer leak in Ossian

The Iowa DNR is looking into a fertilizer leak that was discovered Thursday in Ossian.

The Farmers Union Coop reported Friday morning that a tank had leaked over the winter into its secondary containment structure.  The company pumped the contents of the containment structure to an area that discharged into a storm water intake leading to an unnamed tributary of Nutting Creek. The release was discovered when people noticed white water in the creek.

The Farmers Union Coop estimates between 1,000 to 2,000 gallons of fertilizer were released.  It is working to recover fertilizer from the storm sewer that goes into the creek.  DNR staff are working with the coop on options to recover product in the creek.

The Iowa DNR has collected water samples for testing, has checked for environmental impacts in the stream and is considering appropriate enforcement action.  No dead fish were observed.