Boyle, Alberta — Richardson International Ltd., along with the local farming community, is giving up on efforts to maintain in place an anhydrous ammonia tank because of safety concerns raised by village council members. These concerns have continued to grow in this area despite appeals from area farmers that without the availability of ammonia at this site their fertilizer costs would increase significantly. “Council’s decision to prohibit further operations out of this site, and the subsequent loss of the service to the local agricultural community, is a cost that will ultimately be borne by area farm businesses,” farmer Elwood Splane asserted, along with two other farmers at a recent council meeting. “The loss of this service represents a considerable negative impact in lost potential of equipment investments, lost efficiency in product application and delivery, and lost value, as this cost-effective product will no longer be available.” According to Richardson, Boyle officials made their intentions known last October, advising the company to discontinue operations by Nov. 15. Richardson spokeswoman Tracey Shelton reported, "We presented to the council in October to ensure them that we were meeting all regulatory requirements and the tank was safe." But the Village of Boyle continued to press for closure, citing the location of the tank within the village limits and in the path of prevailing winds that would carry ammonia fumes into residential areas if the tank were compromised. "So we made the decision to advise our customers and shut down the tank by the deadline of Nov. 15," Shelton reported. "We will continue to service our customers in the Boyle/Athabasca area through our area marketing representatives and agronomists." She didn’t say if the efforts would be made to relocate the tank, which reportedly could cost as much as $450,000.
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