Boyden, Iowa — A blue-colored sheen in a creek running through Boyden this (Monday, January 14th) morning has been traced to the local coop, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
About 10 a.m. Monday, someone reported an oily sheen on the creek, saying it extended downstream into the West Branch of the Floyd River.
Iowa Department of Natural Resources staff say they traced the sheen to a tanker truck at the Farmers Co-op Society. According to the DNR, the coop manager estimates about 1,100 gallons of white mineral oil has leaked from the tank sometime over the last two weeks.
The oil has traveled about 6 miles downstream, according to DNR staff, who say they have seen no dead fish in the water.
The DNR says the coop will scrape up contaminated soil, and place booms and absorbent pads across the river about 5 miles southwest of Boyden to collect as much remaining oil as possible.
The DNR says they will consider appropriate enforcement action and monitor the cleanup.
