UPDATE: This information was sent from the DNR, with the discovery of a second leaking ethanol car. Here is more sent Wednesday, May 22, 2013:

CHARLES CITY – The Canadian Pacific Railroad’s attempts to recover three ethanol cars and three locomotives east of Charles City were hampered by soggy, unstable ground Tuesday night.

The railroad is still working to stabilize the approach to the Little Cedar River to allow large equipment to reach and retrieve the semi-submerged cars. The railroad company hopes to have the ethanol tanks out of the water sometime Wednesday.

As work progressed Wednesday, the railroad discovered that a second ethanol car was leaking. The condition of the third car is unknown.

An environmental consulting firm has installed continuous stream monitors a half mile and 5 miles downstream. They are monitoring oxygen levels in the stream, which will indicate how much ethanol is reaching the river. A third monitor is planned for the confluence of the Little Cedar and Cedar rivers. The consulting firm is also monitoring air quality for ethanol vapors.

Floating booms and absorbent pads appear to be capturing a diesel fuel leak from one of three locomotives in the river. DNR inspectors have not seen distressed or dying fish.

The DNR will continue to monitor the situation and cleanup, and consider appropriate enforcement action.

(From May 21, 2013) The Iowa Department of Natural Resources sent the following tonight about leaks from a derailed train:

CHARLES CITY – About 5 p.m. Tuesday, the DNR received confirmation that the partially submerged train that derailed Monday night near Charles City is leaking ethanol and diesel fuel into the Little Cedar River.

 The DNR has been checking for potential environmental concerns since early Tuesday morning. High, fast and heavily silted floodwaters have hampered cleanup and inspection of the Canadian Pacific Railroad’s cars and locomotives.

 As the water receded slightly railroad recovery staff noticed a sheen around the lead locomotive and confirmed it was leaking diesel fuel. The railroad placed booms and absorbent pads around the locomotive and is confident they are capturing most of the diesel fuel.

 They also discovered a puncture in one of the four derailed ethanol cars, resulting in what they think is a slow leak. The cars hold 25,000 gallons of ethanol. Unlike petroleum products, ethanol does not float, but mixes immediately with water making recovery impossible.

 The railroad company plans to remove the leaking car Tuesday evening to prevent further loss of ethanol. If possible, they’ll also remove the other two ethanol cars in the water. They plan to remove the locomotives Wednesday morning.

 Canadian Pacific is testing for dissolved oxygen levels to help monitor the extent of ethanol leakage and hazards to aquatic life. They’ve found normal oxygen levels and no evidence of dead or distressed fish in the stream.

 The DNR will continue to monitor the situation and cleanup, and consider appropriate enforcement action.