The mysterious disappearance of approximately 60,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate has triggered extensive investigations across several agencies.
The chemical, commonly utilized as a fertilizer and a key component in explosives, vanished under odd circumstances while shipping from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to a rail stop in California’s Mojave Desert.
The railcar loaded with 30 tons of ammonium nitrate was discovered empty upon arrival.
Dyno Nobel, the explosives firm responsible for the shipment, reported the incident to the federal National Response Center (NRC).
Experts say a potential leak through the railcar’s bottom gate during transit may have caused the disappearance, but the Federal Railroad Administration’s theory involves improperly closing one of the hopper car gates.
The railcar is transported back to Wyoming for a thorough inspection.
Collaborative efforts involving the Federal Railroad Administration, the California Public Utilities Commission, Union Pacific, and Dyno Nobel are underway to work together and solve the mystery of the vanished ammonium nitrate.
Read More Here: California Officials Investigating Loss of 30-Ton Shipment of Explosive Chemicals
