Union Pacific still says a leak caused 30 tons of chemicals to go missing

Published: Aug. 29, 2023 at 11:01 AM CDT
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - After an investigation, Union Pacific is maintaining that the 30 tons of missing ammonium nitrate was caused by a leak.

The railroad titan believes the chemicals were dropped in small pellets over the course of the 800-mile journey.

“Union Pacific completed its investigation of the incident and fully cooperated with authorities. As we have previously indicated, all the available evidence suggests this was a leak that occurred over the course of transportation from origin to destination,” a spokesperson from Union Pacific wrote in a statement to Wyoming News Now.

In April, the train departed Cheyenne for a two-week trek to Saltdale, California carrying 30 tons of the chemical. When it arrived, the chemicals were gone.

Ammonium nitrate is routinely used as a fertilizer, but has been known as a key ingredient for explosives. This led to concern it could’ve been stolen.

Historically, there have been at least a half dozen instances where ammonium nitrate was the cause for deadly explosions. Most famously, the chemical was used in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which killed 168 people.

Dyno Nobel, the company who manufactured the ammonium nitrate, and Union Pacific, both said no criminal activity is suspected.

However, Dyno Nobel stated prior to the investigation that the seals were intact before leaving Cheyenne and after arriving in Saltdale.

“The initial assessment is that a leak through the bottom gate on the railcar may have developed in transit – releasing pellets totaling approximately 60,000 pounds onto the tracks over the two week trip,” a spokesperson for Dyno Nobel Inc. wrote in a statement in late May.

But assuming a leak did cause the chemicals to go missing, both Union Pacific and Dyno Nobel said there should be no concern over the effects the leak may have environmentally.

“The fertilizer is designed for ground application and quick soil absorption,” this according to a statement from Union Pacific.