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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO BUSINESS, AND RETAILING EDITORS:
Agricultural Retailers Association and The Fertilizer Institute Join
Forces to Promote a Culture of Safety and Security at the Nation's
Retail Fertilizer Outlets
WASHINGTON, March 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Agricultural Retailers
Association (ARA) and The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) are announcing
plans to create ResponsibleAg, an independent, not-for-profit
organization designed to support fertilizer retailers' compliance with
federal safety and security regulations. During the announcement,
made at a March 6 Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee
hearing, Crop Production Services' Senior Director of Environment,
Health and Safety Billy Pirkle also announced publication of "Safety
and Security Guidelines for the Storage and Transportation of
Fertilizer Grade Ammonium Nitrate at Fertilizer Retail Facilities," a
new publication developed by TFI and ARA for use by the industry and
first responders. During the EPW hearing, Committee Chairman, Barbara
Boxer (D-Calif.) voiced strong support for ResponsibleAg and praised
the industry for taking voluntary action.
Under ResponsibleAg, retail fertilizer dealerships will have access to
comprehensive inspections based on federal regulatory requirements.
The inspections will be carried out by trained auditors who will have
successfully completed an intensive training course based on the
objectives of ResponsibleAg.
"While the vast majority of fertilizer retail businesses operate
safely, securely and in compliance with federal regulations, we are
acting out of an abundance of caution and concern for the wellbeing of
workers and communities," said TFI President Chris Jahn.
"ResponsibleAg will verify compliance at more facilities and with
greater speed than is currently being done by the multitude of federal
agencies that regulate the nation's fertilizer retailers, so we are
choosing to act now rather than waiting for the next government
inspection."
"ResponsibleAg will help ensure existing regulations are conveyed and
easily understood by fertilizer retailers," said ARA President & CEO
Daren Coppock. "Retailers want to do the right thing, but overlapping,
duplicative or potentially conflicting requirements make compliance a
challenge. This program will help retailers by collecting the
regulatory requirements into one checklist, and offering them tools
and information to ensure their facilities conform to all current
federal regulations."
ResponsibleAg will credential auditors who will inspect and verify
individual facilities' level of compliance with applicable federal
regulations. Facilities that successfully complete assessments will be
recognized for having done so. Any site that does not successfully
complete an assessment will be provided a list of recommended
corrective actions. Additionally, random quality assurance reviews to
verify the assessments will be conducted by third party auditors.
TFI and ARA are each contributing $100,000 in startup capital for the
organization, and the Asmark Institute is providing an ongoing
contribution that provides for training programs, training facilities
and administration of the ResponsibleAg website and database. Once
established, ResponsibleAg will be funded by registration fees paid by
participating fertilizer storage and handling inventory points and
their suppliers. Auditor training costs will be funded by tuition paid
by those seeking the ResponsibleAg auditor credential. Membership in
TFI, ARA or any other organization is not a requirement for
participation.
ARA and TFI will nominate a nine person Board of Directors which will
be filled from a cross section representing the entire fertilizer
distribution network. Once the Board of Directors has been seated, it
will adopt ResponsibleAg bylaws, create an annual operating budget and
appoint a business manager to oversee day-to-day operations. When the
initial Board of Directors' term has expired, subsequent Directors
will be nominated from ResponsibleAg participating organizations.
TFI and ARA today also announced publication of "Safety and Security
Guidelines for the Storage and Transportation of Fertilizer Grade
Ammonium Nitrate at Fertilizer Retail Facilities." The guidance which
was developed by a panel of technical experts from the associations
fills an existing void in emergency response guidance by providing
recommendations that are specific to ammonium nitrate when it is
stored and transported by a retail fertilizer facility.
Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) The Agricultural Retailers
Association (ARA), a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association, advocates,
influences, educates and provides services to support its members in
their quest to maintain a profitable business environment, adapt to a
changing world and preserve their freedom to operate. ARA represents
the interests of agricultural retailers and distributors across the
United States on legislative and regulatory issues by educating
members of Congress and agency officials on important issues affecting
the industry. For more information about ARA, go to www.aradc.org ,
like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@agretailers).
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation's
fertilizer industry. Tracing its roots back to 1883, TFI's membership
includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading
firms. TFI's full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its
members through legislative, educational, technical, economic
information and public communication programs. Find more information
about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at
@Fertilizer_Inst and SlideShare . Learn more about TFI's nutrient
stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at
@4rnutrients .
Asmark Institute is a national resource center serving the retail
agricultural industry, consisting of retail agribusinesses, state and
national trade associations, educational institutions and government
agencies. The Institute provides compliance materials and services,
develops common sense solutions to new regulatory requirements,
assists the government in its mission of protecting life, property and
the environment, monitors enforcement activity for uniformity,
supports industry efforts to arrive at fair and reasonable regulation
and provides a wealth of unique resources to give wings to the ideas
designed to help lift an industry. The Institute is a private,
not-for-profit organization that provides a forum for organizations to
effectively collaborate on issues for the benefit of the retail
agricultural industry.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140310/PH80083
SOURCE The Fertilizer Institute
-0- 03/10/2014
/CONTACT: Kathy Mathers, The Fertilizer Institute, (202) 515-2703, or Brian Reuwee, Agricultural Retailers Association, (636) 579-0290
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140310/PH80083
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
/Web Site: http://www.tfi.org
CO: The Fertilizer Institute; The Agricultural Retailers Association
ST: District of Columbia
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0000 03/10/2014 17:33:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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