Grant To Assist Iowa Anhydrous Ammonia Facilities With Compliance

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has received a $30,000 grant for EPA Region 7 to assist with outreach, education and implementation of the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Program (RMP) at sites that handle anhydrous ammonia. All fertilizer facilities that handle, process or store more than 10,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia are subject to EPA’s chemical safety requirements. There are approximately 700 agricultural retail anhydrous ammonia facilities in Iowa.

EPA Region 7 receives more accidental release reports for ammonia than for any other chemical. In addition to releases caused by transportation accidents, human error and equipment failure, a number of releases have been caused by anhydrous ammonia thefts.

Retailers were first required to be in compliance with the Risk Management Program in 1999. EPA then started facility inspections and enforcement of the program, which includes five components: hazard assessment system, management, accident prevention, emergency response and submittal of a risk management plan.

Caltha LLP provides expert environmental consultant services in Iowa to obtain environmental permits, evaluate regulatory requirements, and to develop cost effective compliance programs.

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