DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A recent Iowa rail safety study says Dubuque County remains vulnerable to crude oil or biofuels spills more than a year after several railcars carrying ethanol derailed along the Mississippi River.

The state's Department of Transportation and Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department released the study last week. It examines each county's oil and ethanol transportation routes and volumes, previous incidence of spills, derailment and fire, likelihood of future incidents and public safety and environmental risk factors.

Dubuque County is one of several in eastern Iowa said to face a "high" risk.

Several Canadian Pacific railcars derailed in February 2015 near Sherrill, releasing about 51,000 gallons of ethanol.

Tri-state emergency management officials say progress has been made to improve training, planning, communication and equipment for such situations.

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