Video: Crude Oil Leak Apparently Poses No Hazard

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LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) — A tank car carrying crude oil springs a leak, tying up emergency crews for hours.

The leaking tank car was spotted at about 11 Wednesday morning as the train traveled eastbound on the BNSF Railraod track in northern Lowndes County west of North Watson Road. The tank car was near the end of a long stringer of tank cars being pulled by the engines.

The train was stopped and haz-mat fire crews from Columbus and Starkville teamed up to close a cap that had come open. Inspectors were trying to determine how the leak occurred.

Local officials say they aren’t sure how much crude oil leaked but that it appeared to be contained to the railroad right-of-way and did not threaten any streams or water sources.

Railroad crews are checking the tank and offloading the crude oil Wednesday afternoon before moving the train. State environmentalists also are checking the spill.

The train was on its way to refineries in Mobile, Alabama.