Washington, D.C.-The Fertilizer Institute on Nov. 19 issued a statement commending the Association of American Railroads (AAR) for delaying until April 1, 2008, the implementation of new rail tank car specifications for toxic-by-inhalation (TIH) products such as anhydrous ammonia. The implementation date for the requirements was initially set for Jan. 1, 2008. “TFI applauds AAR’s decision to delay implementation of its new standards for rail tank cars hauling TIH materials,” said TFI President Ford B. West. “The fertilizer industry has been working closely with the AAR and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for the past year. With a pending federal rulemaking on the issue, we are pleased with this decision and hope this step indicates agreement that the statutory authority on tank car design rests with the FRA.” According to TFI, FRA Administrator Joseph Boardman had requested that the AAR delay implementation of its standards in view of the pending tank car proposal, which is expected to be released by FRA during the first quarter of 2008.
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