Fertilizer group applauds US security act

20 December 2007 01:52  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) on Wednesday applauded the passage of a bill by Congress to create a national regulatory system for handling ammonium nitrate.

The US House of Representatives and Congress passed the “Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Act of 2007” as part of the year-end domestic spending bill, the TFI said. The spending bill was sent to President George Bush’s desk to be signed into law. 

“Thanks to this legislation, the good that our industry’s products can deliver will not be overshadowed by an individual with criminal intent,” said TFI president Ford B West. 

The bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a regulatory system to help keep ammonium nitrate out of the hands of those with criminal intent. 

The measure mandates all ammonium nitrate facilities and purchasers to register with DHS.

Representative Bennie Thompson (Democrat-Mississippi) said earlier this week the intent of the legislation was to require the registration of those that take possession of ammonium nitrate.

All registrations are to be checked against the terrorist watch list, the TFI said.

A widely used fertilizer, ammonium nitrate was the principal component in the April 1995 bomb that destroyed the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168 people.

That bomb used one tonne of ammonium nitrate mixed with fuel oil.

The bill also includes provisions for expedited reviews of registration applications, notification of application status and appeals process.

In addition, producers and sellers will be required to maintain records of all sales for two years, including the purchaser’s name, address, phone number and registration number, and the date and quantity of ammonium nitrate sold.

The bill pre-empts state regulation that is inconsistent with the federal legislation, but allows states to provide for additional protection. It also requires all thefts or unexplained losses be reported to federal law enforcement within 24 hours.

By: Brian Ford
+1 713 525 2653

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