The derailment of four Canadian Pacific Railway (NYSE:CP) chemical cars into the Thompson River happened Tuesday. Initially, rail officials said the cars carrying ethylene glycol were intact, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., reported Thursday.

But at a Wednesday night public meeting in the town 100 miles northeast of Vancouver, Environment Ministry spokesman Dennis Redford broke different news.

"Well, there has been a release. There's no doubt about it. We have three holes in one tank -- they're small holes," Redford said.

The liquid chemical is used in the manufacture of antifreeze and windshield washer fluid.

CPR environmental engineer Kevin Houle told the meeting because the river was fast-flowing and ethylene glycol is biodegradable, "maximum concentrations you would find (downstream) would be below anything that would cause any environmental impacts," the report said.