The cause of the incident is under investigation
USCG has issued press release to confirm that the Mississippi River was reopened at 6 p.m., Tuesday.
The unified command has approved a lightering plan of the towboat that will help prevent future oil from entering the water. Lightering is a process by which oil is pumped off a vessel and deposited on a lightering barge.
Members from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources conducted several tests of the water column and determined their was no oil present below the surface.
U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Services officials are on scene developing methods to prevent waterfowl from becoming contaminated by the oil. They are also forming response plans for any waterfowl that do get into the oil.
The Coast Guard and partner agencies will be working through the Thanksgiving holiday.
Approximately 100,000 gallons of petroleum products are reported to be on board the sunken vessel.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Source & Image Credit: USCG