Nishnabotna fishkill

May 29, 2024

Catastrophic East Nishnabotna fishkill

UPDATE: The Environmental Protection Commission referred NEW Cooperative to the Attorney General for stepped-up penalties beyond what the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is able to access.

Between March 9 and March 11, 2024, a valve was left open on a large fertilizer storage tank at NEW Cooperative, Inc. near Red Oak, Iowa.  The open valve allowed 1,500 tons (265,000 gallons) of liquid nitrogen fertilizer (32% solution) to drain from the tank into a drainage ditch, which then flowed into the East Nishnabotna River.  Not only was the valve left open, nobody was monitoring the site over the weekend.  The company had not installed any detection equipment for monitoring open valves.

Over the next few days, the pollution traveled all the way downstream in Iowa, through Missouri, and to the confluence of the Nishnabotna River with the Missouri River – a distance of 60 miles.  Along the way, it killed almost 800,000 fish, plus frogs, snakes, mussels, and earthworms. 

The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) is the body of citizens that oversees the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The Commission must demand that NEW Cooperative pay a penalty and restitution for damages equal to the devastation caused by the fertilizer spill. The DNR is limited to levying a fine of $10,000, but the EPC can refer the case to the Attorney General for action that can result in a fine greater than $10,000 and obtain an injunction to ensure that an event like this by NEW Cooperative will not happen again.

The EPC will meet on May 22, 2024. We are asking the Commission to refer NEW Cooperative to the Attorney General for appropriate action.

What you can do:

Please take a few moments and e-mail a comment to the Environmental Protection Commission. Send the e-mail to alicia.plathe@dnr.iowa.gov , Amy.Echard@dnr.iowa.gov , Harold.Hommes@dnr.iowa.gov , Kyle.Tobiason@dnr.iowa.gov , Lisa.Gochenour@dnr.iowa.gov , Mark.Stutsman@dnr.iowa.gov , Patricia.Foley@dnr.iowa.gov , Rebecca.Dostal@dnr.iowa.gov , Roger.Zylstra@dnr.iowa.gov , Jim.Christensen@dnr.iowa.gov

Your comments should stress:

  • The details and seriousness of the NEW Cooperative fertilizer spill warrant a serious penalty.

  • EPC should refer this matter to the Attorney General for appropriate enhanced enforcement action.