Ammonia pipeline leak in northwest Iowa repaired

BRADGATE, Iowa (AP) — Repairs have been made to plug two small leaks of anhydrous ammonia in a pipeline located in Humboldt County in northwest Iowa.

Inspectors on the Magellan Midstream Partners pipeline found the leaks during routine inspections on Monday. The pinhole-sized leaks were a mile apart near Bradgate. Magellan staff made temporary repairs to both leaks Monday night and early Tuesday. Work continued Tuesday to make permanent repairs.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources field supervisor Jeff Vansteenburg says the company conducted air quality monitoring and found minimal releases of ammonia to the atmosphere.

There is no impact surface water. Some contaminated soil has been removed and redistributed on a farm field.

Anhydrous ammonia, which is more than 80 percent nitrogen, is commonly used as a farm fertilizer.