Title 6 — Domestic SecurityRelease 119-73

§488f Protection from civil liability

Title 6 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VIII— - COORDINATION WITH NON-FEDERAL ENTITIES; INSPECTOR GENERAL; UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE; COAST GUARD; GENERAL PROVISIONS › Part Part J— - Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate › § 488f

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Protects owners of ammonium nitrate facilities from being sued in civil court if they honestly refuse to sell or honestly report to the Department or to proper law enforcement a real or attempted purchase or transfer. The protection applies when the owner reasonably believes the buyer might use the ammonium nitrate to make an explosive device for terrorism or for some other illegal purpose. That reasonable belief cannot rest only on a person’s race, sex, national origin, religion or creed, or on their veteran or military status.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §488f

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an owner of an ammonium nitrate facility that in good faith refuses to sell or transfer ammonium nitrate to any person, or that in good faith discloses to the Department or to appropriate law enforcement authorities an actual or attempted purchase or transfer of ammonium nitrate, based upon a reasonable belief that the person seeking purchase or transfer of ammonium nitrate may use the ammonium nitrate to create an explosive device to be employed in an act of terrorism (as defined in section 3077 of title 18), or to use ammonium nitrate for any other unlawful purpose, shall not be liable in any civil action relating to that refusal to sell ammonium nitrate or that disclosure.

(b)A reasonable belief that a person may use ammonium nitrate to create an explosive device to be employed in an act of terrorism under subsection (a) may not solely be based on the race, sex, national origin, creed, religion, status as a veteran, or status as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States of that person.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 488f

Title 6 — Domestic Security

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73