Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association

The ammonia schools starting this week are taught by IFCA and the IL Dept of Agriculture. Because of IFCA's partnership with IDA, these training programs are the only ones that feature an overview of what IDA inspectors look for at the facilities, a review of actual accidents that IDA investigated and recommendations from IDA for preventive measures. Please go to ifca.com to view the dates and locations of the schools. We welcome walk-ins!  

The lineup for the 2012 IFCA/IDA anhydrous ammonia safety schools is as follows: February 14, 2012 @ Mendota Civic Center, Mendota, IL February 15, 2012 @ Monsanto Research Farm, Monmouth, IL February 16, 2012 @ Oakley Lindsay Center, Quincy, IL February 17, 2012 @ Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield, IL February 21, 2012 @ Double Tree Hotel, Collinsville, IL February 22, 2012 @ Rend Lake Resort, Whittington, IL February 23, 2012 @ Unique...More

Please click on the link to download and print a copy of the 2012 NH3 safety school registration form.  

Anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks manufactured between June 2009 and September 2010 by American Welding & Tank, LLC have experienced some defects. American Welding & Tank has asked the industry to distribute information on the inspection and warranty of these nurse tanks. Please click on the attachment to this email view the notice and inspection program. IFCA is here to assist with any issues you have relative to ammonia equipment, operations and safety so please don't hesitate to contact...More

Click on the link to view the American Welding and Tank advisory letter.  

IFCA recently met with Illinois EPA regarding anhydrous ammonia releases over the past two years. IEPA and IDA report that NH3 releases at stationary storage locations are down but field of application releases are slightly higher. Once an anhydrous ammonia release has been reported to IEPA, they will then send an Incident Inquiry Letter (IIL) to the responsible party requesting a detailed description of the incident and cause. It is extremely important to respond to the Incident Inquiry...More

Taking implements of husbandry, such as NH3 nurse tanks,across state lines has been a controversial topic over the last few years. DOT has just recently clarified that implements of husbandry are not commercial motor vehicles (CMV) and therefore not subject to the CMV regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) authority covers persons who operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. Therefore,when an implement of husbandry crosses state lines...More

If your company offers for transportation or transports a shipment of placarded hazardous material, you must complete the annual HAZMAT registration and pay the registration fee. The deadline to submit your annual HAZMAT registration and fee is July 1, 2011. The annual registration fee for a small business (less than 100 employees) is $275. If your company has more than 100 employees then the annual HAZMAT registration fee is $2600. The registration form can be found at http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat...More

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) reports that on Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted a conference call with industry representatives to discuss technical issues with the Risk Assessment methodology used for establishing Tier Rankings in the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. There was a correction made to the methodology that resulted in a re-evaluation of 360 facilities with final Tier Rankings. These facilities were originally tiered...More

The attached photograph appeared in this week’s Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) newsletter. CVSA is an association of state highway enforcement personnel. They, along with federal Department of Transportation (DOT) enforcement personnel, are increasing their inspections of ammonia facilities and specifically facilities with nurse tanks. An article published with this photograph indicated that 113 nurse tanks were inspected and 78 of those were found to have serious...More

Click on the article to see a March 29, 2011 press release from IDA and IFCA on safety tips for applying ammonia.  

The USDOT Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMS) is proposing additional requirements for loading and unloading cargo tanks (i.e. NH3 nurse tanks). The proposal includes the following requirements for motor carriers and facilities that engage in loading and unloading cargo tanks that transport hazardous materials. Assess the risks of loading and unloading operations and develop written operating procedures Train hazmat employees annually in the relevant...More

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announced today the Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), issued its long awaited final rule incorporating several long-standing special permits into the federal hazardous materials regulations. Special permit 13554, held by TFI on behalf of its members is now included into rulemaking. As a result of the final rule, nurse tanks with missing or illegible data plates enrolled in the NTIP and operating...More

Please click on the link to view the two year Hours of Service Exemption for Anhydrous Ammonia Delivery 

Please click on the link below to determine the most economically optimal nitrogen rate using the nitrogen rate calculator. extension.agron.iastate.edu/soilfertility/nrate.aspx Also please click on the attachedpdf article by University of Illinois Extension Specialist in soil fertility,Fabian Fernandez, regarding timely nitrogen application.  

Please click on the attached pdf files to view a copy of the memo to IFCA members, memo to CT inspectors, a copy of the addendum, special permit and USDOT final rule.  

Click here to see a brochure illustrating common accidents with ammonia application and how to prevent them.  

For five years the Nurse Tank Inspection Program (NTIP) has been used to keep NH3 nurse tanks with missing or illegible data plates in service as long as they pass a series of tests and inspection by a certified Cargo Tank (CT) inspector. USDOT recently has questioned the validity of the program as well asinformation provided on theinspection form used in the NTIP. IFCA is asking all of our members who received the letter regarding the addendum to pleasesit tightuntil IFCA staff...More

Click here for the explanation memo and new form for licensing fertilizer nurse tank trailers if the trailers do not have a title or certificate or origin.  

Click on the link to access the Power Point Presentation and interpretive guidance given by Region V USEPA representatives at the 2010 Regulatory Workshop held in Peoria, IL. 

USDOT officers are conducting nurse tank inspections in the Midwest. Click here for more info. 

Click on the attachment to view the guidance document to assist in preparing your Risk Management Plan and Risk Management Program for your facility. 

IFCA, in partnership with Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Corn Growers Association developed a brochure outlining the regulatory requirements farmers must comply with if they own anhydrous ammonia storage tanks or anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks. Please click on the link to access theregulatory brochure.  

This video is designed to provide farmers with safety information related to handling, transportation, application, first aid and emergency response as it pertains to anhydrous ammonia.  

Click here to see the IFCA Regulatory Alert and December 2008 letter from USDOT containing information and photographs on anhydrous ammonia nurse tank compliance issues. 

This document explains the hours of service exception for transporting agricultural inputs including anhydrous ammonia. 

 

Effective Wednesday, October 1, 2008, no person may offer a motor carrier any hazardous material specified in FMCSA 385.403 unless that motor carrier holds a safety permit issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The HAZMAT safety permit requirement took effect back in January 2005. Anyone hauling a hazardous material such as anhydrous ammonia or hazardous materials listed in FMCSA 49 CFR 385.403 are required to obtain a hazardous material safety permit. According...More

This poster contains information for shippers of hazardous materials entering river terminals regulated by the U.S. Coast Guard under the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA). 

TWIC or Transportation Worker Identification Credential is a new identification system required by people entering secure areas at our nations ports. This may include barge terminals that offload dry or liquid fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia. Click on this pdf file to get information regarding how and where to apply for a TWIC. 

All facilities that register and submit Top-Screen information to DHS must also complete Chemical-Terrorism Vulnerability Information (CVI) training. This consists of an an online training module which takes approximately twenty minutes to complete. Click on this link to access the CVI training module, complete the training and print a certificate of completion. 

Is your company emergency sign faded to the point where you can't read the information anymore?TheIllinois Department of Agricultureanhydrous ammonia regulations require anemergency sign with letters of a minimum height of two inches including at a minimum the name and phone number of the owner, manager or agent of the anhydrous ammonia storage location. The sign must be located at the entrance to the site property or apart from the storage tanks. The Asmark Institute emergency sign programgoes...More

 

Click on this PDF to view R-Stamp Welders and DOT CT facilities that are certified to weld on anyhdrous ammonia nurse tanks in Illinois and perform testing for the Nurse Tank Inspection Program. 

 

Click this link to visit the TFI homepage including access to the my RMP program. 

 

 

 

 

 

Clarification and Application for Restricted Use CDL 

 

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is backing a new rule that prohibits converting ammonia nurse tanks to LP service. The NFPA recommendations states that except for containers used in cargo tank vehicle service, ASME containers of 3,000 gallons water capacity or less used to store anhydrous ammonia shall not be converted to LP gas fuel service. Keep in mind that this new provision is simply a recommendation by NFPA. Unless the state of Illinois adopts the provisions set forth...More