No surface water or groundwater were contaminated by the spill

On Saturday, June 5, just after 9 a.m., a semi truck and trailer rolled and released 6,000 gallons of farm chemicals into the soil.

The crash happened on State Highway 104 south of Terrace.

According to the State Patrol, Anthony Carlson, 27, of Willmar, was driving the semi and when he tried to move over to make room for oncoming traffic, the truck's tires caught the edge of the road, and the truck rolled into the ditch.

Carlson was reportedly treated and released from Glacial Ridge Hospital.

The 2001 Mack Truck and trailer are reportedly owned by Mike Stammer of Stammer Farms.

According to Pope County Ag Inspector Barry Bouwman, the agricultural chemicals released from the truck included: 2,000 gallons of RoundUp herbicide, 2,000 gallons of 28 percent liquid nitrogen, 2,000 gallons of crop oil, and a few water tanks.

The total area affected measures about 70'x30'. No surface water or groundwater were contaminated by the spill, Bouwman said.

The slope of the land where the crash happened kept the chemicals contained. Dry soils in the ditch absorbed most of the chemicals. Bouwman said, "We got real lucky with this one."

Since the crash happened, West Central Environmental has been in the area excavating the contaminated soil. Several truckloads of the contaminated soil were hauled away from the site early last week. The soil can either be thinly spread over many acres of land, or the soil will have to be hauled to a landfill that accepts contaminated soil.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture was on scene last week doing soil sampling to monitor the soil saturation levels.

"With this location, I'm confident it will all be cleaned up," Bouwman said.

Stammer will reportedly be responsible for the financial impact of the clean-up and subsequent backfill of the area and re-excavation.