State, Federal, and Local Agencies Respond to Anhydrous Ammonia Leak in Effingham County

State, Federal, and Local Agencies Respond to Anhydrous Ammonia Leak in Effingham County

Local Evacuation Remains in Effect

TEUTOPOLIS - Representatives from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA), Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), Illinois State Police (ISP), and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are on scene and coordinating response with local Police and Fire Departments and the Effingham County Emergency Management Agency in response to a multi-vehicle accident involving a semi-truck transporting anhydrous ammonia.  Representatives from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) are on scene, and additional U.S. EPA contractors along with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are also en route to the scene. 

The semi-truck was carrying approximately 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia at the time of the accident.  Early estimates indicate approximately 4,000 gallons have been released.  The leak has been partially patched.  There have been five fatalities reported as well as multiple injuries.  Currently approximately 500 individuals have been evacuated from the area due to the anhydrous ammonia leak.

The coordinated response currently underway includes:

• A contractor hired by the responsible tanker truck is en route to the scene to review the situation and advise on the best plan to safely empty the tanker.
• A U.S. EPA Contractor is en route to support any air monitoring requests from incident command.
• Illinois EPA personnel have been deployed to the site in support of operations.
• ISP continues to support local law enforcement and emergency personnel.  Troopers are handling check points with IDOT.  Once the scene is clear, ISP will investigate the cause of the crash.
• IDOT has closed Route 40 between Effingham and Montrose.
• The evacuation area is from Pearle Street in Teutopolis, along Route 40 to 2100 North Road, North to I-70, west to Pearle Street.
• The evacuation is expected to remain in place at least through Sunday morning.  Resident in the evacuation zone should not return to the area until it has been lifted by local emergency officials.
• IEMA-OHS has been deployed to the scene in support of on scene operations.
• A team from NTSB will also be on-scene to investigate the incident.

 Information regarding the fatalities is being provided by the Effingham County Coroner's Office.  Additional information will be provided through the Incident Command.