Update on semi that spilled hazardous dust in rural Cass County

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 6:00 PM

update-on-semi-that-spilled-hazardous-dust-in-rural-cass-county

The Cass County Emergency Management Agency released that a HAZMAT crew was dispatched to County Road 225 South in rural Cass County on Monday.

A semi carrying hazardous dust had rolled over, spilling the material at the scene.

According to a press release by Cass County Emergency Management Agency officials, a semi that had been carrying a load of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD), a by-product from steelmaking, was found laying on its passenger side at County Road 225 S between County Roads 375 W and 275 W.

Cass County EMA Director Rocky Buffum said the materials in the dust did contain various dangerous metals that had the potential of causing long-term health effects.

Cass County EMA was dispatched to the scene due to the presence of HAZMAT placards. Also responding to the scene was Logansport Fire Department, Clinton Township Fire Department, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Cass County Emergency Medical Services.

Worried about high winds spreading the dust, Buffum said officials laid plastic sheets over the truck and materials as a way to prevent further spread into the environment. Additional measures were also taken to contain diesel fuel and other leaking observed from the semi at the scene.

The semi involved was owned by Gardner Transport Services, and had been transporting material from Nucor Steel in Crawfordsville to Waelz Sustainable Products (WSP) in Logansport.The spill had been contained in under two hours, with cleanup being conducted with fire crews and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Buffum said they will continue to keep the public updated on their Cass County Emergency Management Agency - Indiana Facebook page.

(Photos provided by Cass County EMA.)