Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association

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 as information provided on the inspection form used in the NTIP. 

IFCA is asking all of our members who received the letter regarding the addendum to please sit tight until IFCA staff meets with USDOT officials and attempt to correct this confusing situation.  The addendum requires that each nurse tank that has been inspected within the last five years must have an addendum attached to the inspection form for each tank.  The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) sent out a memo along with a copy of the addendum that must be sent to the facility who originally inspected the nurse tanks.  The form must be signed by a CT facility representative and kept on file as an attachment to each inspection form for each nurse tank tested and inspected.  Once again IFCA is asking the companies who received the letter and addendum from TFI to please sit tight until IFCA can meet with USDOT officials and attempt to correct the situation.  The forms do not have to be completed immediately as USDOT has granted six months to complete the addendum to the NTIP form.