Causes of Agricultural Causes of Agricultural Chemical SpillsChemical Spills

Department of Department of AgricultureAgriculture

Anhydrous AmmoniaAnhydrous AmmoniaQuick coupler failure.Failure of excess flow

valve.Unseated valves.Pressure release

valves.Theft & Vandalism.

AA Quick Coupler FailureAA Quick Coupler Failure Nurse tank hitch problems. Maintenance important.

Other AA Causes of Releases Other AA Causes of Releases

Temperature variations cause valves to unseat.

Pressure release valves. Theft and vandalism.

Transportation AccidentsTransportation Accidents Brake failure. Applicator entered ditch. Sump ruptured releasing

load.

Transportation AccidentsTransportation Accidents

Corner taken to fast.Truck tipped over in

ditch releasing dry fertilizer.

Note cleanup where fertilizer once was.

Transportation AccidentsTransportation Accidents

Truck tip over. 3,000 gallons UAN and

gallons of Harness. Into ditch and field.

Transportation AccidentsTransportation Accidents

110 yards excavated. Buried facilities in ditch.

Transportation AccidentsTransportation Accidents

Flatbed truck hauling 4-1300 gallon tanks.

Entered driveway and dropped wheels into ditch.

2,000 gallons UAN lost to ditch.

Transportation AccidentsTransportation Accidents Underground facilities

present. Sandy soils. Excavation required.

ContainmentContainment

Hose on N-Serve pump left outside dike.

Product siphoned out of minibulk and outside of dike.

UnknownUnknown

Alleged dumping of rinsate.

Soil tested high in acetochlor and other herbicides.

Applicator Hose FailureApplicator Hose Failure

Small release of Liberty tankmix.

Damage to trees and lawn.

DumpingDumping

Dumping of water without knowing that it contained some fertilizer.

Mobile Tender Tank FailureMobile Tender Tank Failure

Older “Raven” yellow bodied tanks with white caps.

Sloshing action of liquid fertilizer blows out white cap.

Storage Tank FailureStorage Tank Failure

Storage Tank FailureStorage Tank Failure

Small hole in base of tank.

Small release over long period of time.

Source of groundwater contamination.

Storage Tank FailureStorage Tank Failure Vandalism. Tube gauge

cut and valve jammed open.

5,000 gallons 7-21-7 released to containment.

Other Bulk Storage Causes.Other Bulk Storage Causes. Manhole cover gasket not installed correctly. Site gauge damaged and valve not shut completely. Extreme cold cracks piping. Undiscovered mild steel appurtanance corroding

through. Old rusting bulk tank.

Unsecured loads.Unsecured loads. Minibulk hose siphoning

herbicide along highway. Pumps left on or

accidentally engaged releasing product.

Fertilizer applicator drive-wheel engaging.

Delivery Responsibility.Delivery Responsibility.

Semi truck delivery of UAN to bulk tank.

Pump turned on without opening bulk valving.

800 gallon release.

Improper Storage.Improper Storage. Valve on minibulk left

slightly open. Parked overnight near

bulk containment. 40 gallons Prowl leached

down outside concrete containment.

Improper StorageImproper Storage

Acts of NatureActs of Nature

Comfrey Tornado. Debris broke off pressure

relief valving.

We used to see…..We used to see…..

These types of spills rarely occur.

Now…..Now…..

Mild steel plumbing on fertilizer bulk tanks causing spills.

We used to see…..We used to see…..

Spills occurring during transport.

We still see....We still see....

Spills occurring during transport.

We will see…..We will see…..

Vandalism. Especially with anhydrous ammonia facilities.

Improperly secured load…Improperly secured load…

The chance of spills can be reduced. The chance of spills can be reduced.

The Anhydrous Ammonia Meth ProcessThe Anhydrous Ammonia Meth Process Drug Enforcement

Administration-Video.

Ammonia added to processed ephedrine and lithium (battery).

Imagine garden hoses duct tape and an igloo

cooler