1. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 1 Bulk Liquid Fertilizer Storage in Minnesota Gregg Regimbal Supervisor, Pesticide Management Unit

2. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 2 On-Farm BLF Storage  Substandard recycled tanks  Lack of secondary containment  Large quantities stored  Appears to be increasing

3. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 3 BLF Incident Cause and result of inadequate storage Clean-up Substandard Tank

4. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 4 Enforcement Actions  Involving Growers & Dealers  Incidents occurred  Substandard tanks  Nonpermitted sites

5. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 5 Proper Secondary Containment

6. 6 Minnesota On-Farm Bulk Liquid Fertilizer

7. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 7 Permitting Options 1.“Permit Pending”  Pre-approved plans  Fill tanks in sound condition prior to completion of secondary containment 2.Traditional permit  Complete secondary containment prior to filling tanks

8. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 8 Permitted On-Farm Bulk Liquid Fertilizer Storage  19 Farm sites permitted Total tanks: 92 Average number of tanks/site: 5 Storage range: 2,500 – 242,200 gals Tank size range: 1,200 – 34,600 gals Total storage: 899,549 gals Average storage/site: 47,345 gals  3 Farm sites are in Permit Pending Status Total tanks: 3 Number of tanks/site: 1 Tank size range: 5,000 – 21,000 gals Total storage: 31,000 gals

9. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 9

10. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 10 Any Questions? Gregg Regimbal Supervisor, Pesticide Management Unit 651 201-6671 gregg.regimbal@state.mn.us

11. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 11 MN Fertilizer Authority (cont.-)  Liquid Commercial Fertilizer Rules (1510.0370 – 1510.0380) Safeguards and storage containers must prevent the escape of liquid fertilizer; and prevent pollution of any surface or ground waters. Storage container is a tank in which liquid fertilizer is stored. Liquid Fertilizer is fertilizer material in a fluid, nonpackaged form

12. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 12 MDA Authority on Fertilizer Storage  MDA statutes: Permit for bulk storage of fertilizers (18C.305) Must store, handle and distribute fertilizer in a manner that does not cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment (18C.201 subd.1)

13. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 13 BLF Storage Guidelines 1.Storage quantity is limited to slightly over a semi load (approx. 6,000 gallons) and for a short period of time prior to use (approx. 4 weeks) 2.Tanks and appurtenances in good condition 3.No storage adjacent to wells, surface waters, tile inlets or anything easily contaminated from a spill 4.Must maintain an incident response plan

14. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 14 Rulemaking History  New proposed BLF rule in the late 1990’s was not finalized  Proposal contained more specific language on storage

15. January 9, 2006 Minnesota Department of Agriculture 15 Overview  On-Farm Storage Issues  MDA’s Authority  Storage Guidelines  Incidents  Enforcement  Permitting  Rulemaking History