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ALERT

Nurse Tank Permit to be Phased Out

The anhydrous ammonia field tank safety program administered by the Ammonia Safety Council, the so called “Green Book”, will be phased out over a five year period beginning in 2008. The Green Book program was an alternative to the periodic inspection and pressure testing required for nurse and applicator tanks by the CSA B620 standard under the Transport Canada Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations. The Permit authorizing Ammonia Safety Council members to use the Green Book as an alternative will no longer be renewed in its previous form when it expires on November 30, 2007.

Incidents of nurse tank leaks and cracks have occurred in Canada, as well as ruptures of nurse tanks in the United States causing one death. Our review of these incidents has convinced us that the Ammonia Safety Council Green Book inspection program was not adequate to ensure the continued safety of nurse and applicator tanks over the long term. The CSA B620 inspections and tests include pressure testing of each tank with water, every five years, to assess its integrity, an aspect that is missing from the Green Book. The CSA B620 also includes external inspection at a maximum three year interval.

A five year transition Permit to the Ammonia Safety Council will be in force starting next year. Under this transition Permit, a nurse or applicator tank may still be inspected under the Ammonia Safety Council Green Book but only until the tank becomes due for its next five year major inspection.

Beginning in 2008, when any nurse or applicator tank participating in the Ammonia Safety Council Green Book program becomes due for its next five year major inspection, that tank will no longer be eligible for the Green Book and the testing and inspection required by the CSA B620 standard will be required, at that time, and thereafter.

Nurse and applicator tanks manufactured by Westeel to the CRN 8227 design, and tanks manufactured by the Chemi-Trol Chemical Co. must be tested as prescribed by CSA B620 no later than the end of 2009 due to particular concerns with these tanks.

All of the Green Book requirements must be followed for nurse tanks operating under the Green Book during the transition period, including the annual inspections and applications of decals, until their five year major inspection due date. Nurse tanks that have been switched to the CSA B620 program must comply with all B620 requirements. You can elect to comply with CSA B620 before the five year major inspection due date of a tank, but it is not permissible to mix and match requirements between the Green Book and CSA B620 programs.

The CSA B620 inspections and tests must be performed by a Transport Canada registered facility. Transport Canada registered facilities exist across Canada. A list of these facilities can be found on the website at the following address: http://www.tc.gc.ca/tdg/info/moc/tank/tankform_e.htm .(Search for facilities registered to test TC 51 portable tanks.)

If you have a large fleet of tanks, it may be to your advantage to register with Transport Canada as an inspection and test facility under CSA B620 to do the inspections and pressure tests yourself. It is permissible for a registered facility to inspect and test their own tanks provided that all the requirements of the CSA B620 standard are followed. The requirements and criteria for registration are listed in Clause 8 of the CSA B620 standard which you can purchase from the Canadian Standards Association. (http://www.csa-intl.org/onlinestore/welcome.asp?Language=EN )

One of the requirements for registration is that a facility have, maintain and follow a prescribed quality control manual. The Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR) has developed a training manual and course to assist members who wish to apply to Transport Canada for registration. You must, however, apply for registration under B620 yourself and satisfy Transport Canada that you meet the criteria for registration. A Certificate of Registration will be granted directly by Transport Canada to each approved facility.

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