A train derailment over the weekend near Montrose, Iowa has the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) cleaning up a portion of the Mississippi and looking for answers.

While no one was hurt in the derailment, the DNR does report that several hundred gallons of diesel and an unknown amount of coal spilled into the Mississippi River as coal cars overturned between the mainline and side track. According to KCRG, the DNR is working with local emergency responders, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, US Fish and Wildlife Service as well as the United States Coast Guard on the incident.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office states that until further notice, Mississippi River Road from Montrose to 320th Street will be partially blocked due to clean-up efforts. Please avoid the area.

According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, The Burlington Hawk-Eye reported the barge was parked along the shore of the Mississippi near Montrose. It was pulled up to the shore in a way that the nose of the barge was left extending over the tracks. When a southbound train operated by BNSF came down the tracks about 11:50 p.m., it hit the barge, derailing two locomotives and overturning several coal cars.

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There is no known environmental danger to the public at this time, but the agencies involved in the cleanup are monitoring the situation.

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