At 11:20 hours on Wednesday, February 4, 2015, a southbound Canadian Pacific freight train derailed on the right descending bank of the Mississippi River 10 miles north of Dubuque, Iowa near Balltown, Iowa. Approximately 55,000 gallons of product (current estimate) was discharged or burned potentially impacting the Mississippi River. Three railcars ignited as a result of the derailment. 14 railcars containing ethanol derailed, 8 of which may have leaked. Local officials, the US EPA, IDNR, WDNR, Illinois EPA, USCG, USFWS, and DOI are coordinating response efforts.
The nearest drinking water intakes are in the Quad Cities area. Officials do not believe the intakes will be impacted. However, the water companies are monitoring intakes closely.
The endangered Higgin's Eye and Sheep Nose mussels range extends into the area. It is not known if any of these populations have been impacted yet.
