Nurse Tank Failure with Release of Hazardous Materials Near Calamus, Iowa, April 15, 2003

On April15, 2003, a non specification cargo tank used by River Valley Cooperative (River Valley) exclusively for agricultural purposes as a nurse tank split open after being filled with anhydrous ammonia at River Valley's nurse tank filling facility near Calamus, Iowa. About 1,300 gallons of the poisonous and corrosive gas escaped, seriously injuring two nurse tank loaders, one of whom died from his injuries 9 days after the accident. Equipment repair and replacement costs associated with the accident totaled about $3,100. The National Transportation Safety Board identified the following major safety issues: the adequacy of standards for initial qualification and periodic testing of nurse tanks, and the adequacy of River Valley's emergency procedures for anhydrous ammonia nurse tank loaders. As a result of its investigation of this accident, the Safety Board makes safety recommendations to the Research and Special Programs Administration and River Valley.