Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association

Over the next two weeks the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Environmental Programs will be conducting a random assessment of 27 anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks at various ag retail facilities. This is a new voluntary program IDA will use to assess compliance with USDOT regulations, specifically HAZMAT regulations. The voluntary program will be very similar to a USDOT HAZMAT compliance audit with the major difference being IDA will send the facility a final report with...More

The Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Products inspection, will be performing a detailed survey of all anhydrous ammonia storage tanks in this year. The purpose of this survey is to validate current information on file and update all facility files as needed. This is not a new regulatory requirement but an effort to meet existing statutory mandates with the most accurate information possible. The survey will be conducted during the annual on-site NH3 inspection...More

IFCA in cooperation with Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association and Illinois Department of Agriculture have developed a new online anhydrous ammonia safety awareness program for farmers. Funded by a grant from the Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC), the online program consists of five training modules covering Properties and Characteristics of NH3, Proper Personal Protective Equipment, Transportation to and From the Field, Safe Hook-Up in the Field...More

Today the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the IFCA issued a joint press release announcing the creation of a new web-based training program for anhydrous ammonia safety for farmers. This innovative new program features video, animation and on-line information pertaining to ammonia properties, protective equipment, equipment hook-up, safe transportation and emergency response. We are asking ag retailers to let their customers know of the availability of this program to increase...More

The online anhydrous ammnonia safety awareness program was fundedthrough a grant fromthe Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council (NREC) in partnership with the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Department of Agriculture. Click on the link to access the online safety awareness program. http://learning.ifca.com  

Remember when hauling anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks or other implements of husbandry after sunset, the towing vehicles or implements of husbandrymust be equiped with an amber rotating or flashing light. The lights can also be operated during daylight hours but they are required between sunset and sunrise.  

IFCA recently received a report from a member in northern Illinois regarding a roadside OSHA inspection. A farmer in northern Illinois was applying anhydrous ammonia this week and as he began switching an empty NH3 nurse tank for a full tank a representative from OSHA approached the farmer in the field. The farmer was not wearing gloves and goggles as he was hooking the tank to the toolbar prompting the OSHA representative to pull off the side of the road and inform the farmer he needs...More

There are still a few seats open this fall for the Asmark Institute's Ammonia Technician Course which is geared toward the needs of facility personnel responsible for maintaining the mechanical integrity of anhydrous ammonia installations. This first course of its kind will be offered at the Agricenter Training Complex in Bloomington, IL. The goal of this 3 day long course is to foster a strong preventative maintenance message and prepare participants to return to their facility trained...More

Remember if you have a reportable quantity (RQ) release of anhydrous ammonia equal to or greater than 18 gallons/100 pounds you have 15 minutes of knowledge of the release to contact: The National Response Center at 800.424.8802 Illinois Emergency Management Agency at 800.782.7860 Local Emergency Planning Committee Local Emergency Responders If you have questions about reporting requirements or need assistance, please contact the IFCA office. IFCA...More

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

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 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 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.  

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

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. 

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. 

 

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