AASA Inspections in Illinois and Responsible Ag Inspections
The summer, bulk crop protection storage and handling facilities in Illinois will be asked to participate in an American Agronomic Stewardship Alliance (AASA) inspection to assure compliance with federal regulations and good stewardship practices regarding the storage, handling and repackaging of bulk pesticides. If you have bulk pesticides at your locations, you should receive a letter from AASA notifying you of the program and a follow-up phone call from an AASA inspector establishing a convenient time for the inspection. To see the compliance checklist that AASA uses in their inspections, click here and more information about the program is available at www.aginspect.org. IFCA administers the AASA program on behalf of the crop protection industry.
Illinois is one of 21 states that will receive an AASA inspection in 2015. These inspections began in 2006 in Illinois and are on a three year cycle: If you handle bulk pesticides, you have been asked to participate in this voluntary, no-charge inspection program in 2006, 2009, 2012 and now again in 2015. Compliance with the USEPA regulations on bulk pesticide storage and handling has increased greatly since the AASA program began and IFCA thanks all of our members who participate in this program. Only the facility managers and the pesticide manufacturers who deliver into your bulk tanks see the inspection results, and if there are any problems your manufacturer sales rep may follow up with you to help address any issues.
Illinois is one of 21 states that will receive an AASA inspection in 2015. These inspections began in 2006 in Illinois and are on a three year cycle: If you handle bulk pesticides, you have been asked to participate in this voluntary, no-charge inspection program in 2006, 2009, 2012 and now again in 2015. Compliance with the USEPA regulations on bulk pesticide storage and handling has increased greatly since the AASA program began and IFCA thanks all of our members who participate in this program. Only the facility managers and the pesticide manufacturers who deliver into your bulk tanks see the inspection results, and if there are any problems your manufacturer sales rep may follow up with you to help address any issues.
We realize there may be some confusion between AASA and the new Responsible Ag inspection program. Both programs are designed to help ag retailers comply with existing federal regulations pertaining to the storage and handling of agrichemicals. RA will inspect for compliance with regard to fertilizer storage, and can also review compliance with pesticide regulations, OSHA, DOT, etc. The priority for RA inspections is to first visit those facilities with anhydrous ammonia or ammonium nitrate, while AASA focuses on bulk pesticide storage and handling.
IFCA strongly encourages participation in both AASA and RA; both programs are industry led and are designed to assist you in your compliance efforts, not to issue any penalties or report you in any way to a regulatory body. These programs elevate the overall industry compliance rate with complex federal regulations and are your partners in addressing often complicated regulatory requirements in a simple and upfront manner. Please welcome both AASA and RA inspectors to your facilities. You are required to register on the ResponsibleAg.com website in order to obtain an RA inspection. AASA uses a list provided by the chemical manufacturers to determine which bulk pesticide facilities are eligible for inspection.
If you have questions about either program, please contact Jean or KJ at the IFCA office. Illinois ag retailers have always had a solid record with regard to regulatory compliance and these programs exist to help you in that effort!