Railcar Spill Closes Portion Of UMR

A 10-mile stretch of the Upper Mississippi River at St. Paul, Minn., was closed due to a derailed tank car that spilled about 3,200 gallons of diesel fuel into the river August 8. As of August 9, there was no estimated time of re-opening as crews worked to clean up the spill.

The railcar was part of a Union Pacific train that was crossing the Hoffman Bridge from one rail yard to another when it derailed and ruptured. Union Pacific immediately deployed absorbent boom as well as small boat with suction capabilities.

The Coast Guard closed the river to all traffic from Mile 835 to Mile 825, according to Coast Guard spokesman Lt.jg. Dana Schmitt. The Environmental Protection Agency was the lead federal agency on the scene. Personnel from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency were also present.

The Hoffman Bridge, also known as the Chicago & North Western Bridge, opened in 1910. The swing bridge is 20 feet above the river and 1,275 feet long.