KOSSUTH COUNTY – A North Iowa man was killed by fumes while working with a storage tank, an investigation shows.
The Kossuth County Sheriffs Office and Kossuth County Emergency Management have been coordinating with State and Federal agencies in regard to the incident on September 4, 2021 at 1701 Hwy 169. This involved an open concrete tank and the accidental death of Randy Meyer of Whittemore, Iowa.
It has been determined that M&M Pumping, LLC out of West Bend, Iowa was using the tank for storage of peptones and soybean wash water. On September 4, 2021, the tank for an unknown reason, was foaming over the top of the tank Mr Meyer was attempting to agitate or stir the contents of the tank with a tractor and auger when he was overcome with the odor of gases.
At the request of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (ONR), on September 16 and 17, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency performed an air quality screening assessment around the facility and near the storage tank for a limited number of pollutants DNR is working with EPA to collect additional air samples to more comprehensively identify and characterize the odors being emitted from the storage tank at this facility Initial results indicate there are no immediate air quality concerns to the public.
The DNR is working with the responsible parties as well as local, state and federal officials to address environmental concerns during the removal and proper disposal of the waste material.
