Chemical Sector Security Summit - Ammonium Nitrate

Section 563 of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2008 gave the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the authority to regulate the sale and transfer of ammonium nitrate. That same year, DHS published an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) summarizing the proposed ammonium nitrate regulations. Comments from the public were received on a variety of issues through the ANPRM and are currently being considered by DHS in developing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). A DHS representative at the summit noted that the Department is completing an internal review of the NPRM and anticipates publishing the NPRM this fall. The rule will address:

• The definition of ammonium nitrate;
• Registration activities;
• Point of sale requirements;
• Record keeping;
• Reporting of loss or theft;
• Inspections and audits;
• Civil penalties;
• Adjudications and appeals; and
• Guidance materials.