6 U.S.C. § 488a: Regulation of the sale and…

§488a Regulation of the Sale and Transfer of Ammonium Nitrate

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary, through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), must control how ammonium nitrate is sold and moved to stop it from being used in terrorist attacks. Within 90 days after December 26, 2007, the Secretary must set a percentage that decides when a mixture counts as ammonium nitrate. Owners of ammonium nitrate facilities must register with the Department and get a registration number. People who plan to buy ammonium nitrate must also register and get a number. Facility owners must keep records for two years of every sale or transfer. Those records must show the buyer’s name, address, phone, registration number, any agent at the sale, the date and amount sold, and must include identity checks. Owners must protect those records. The Secretary may exempt people who deal only with explosives under a chapter 40, title 18 license. The Secretary must consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, states, and the private sector so farmers are not unfairly burdened. Most information collected must be kept secret, except it can be shared with U.S. personnel or contractors who need it and with state agencies under protective arrangements. The Secretary must set up fast registration procedures, check applicants against the terrorist screening database, and may deny registration if a person appears in that database. The Secretary should process many applications during the six-month period described in section 488e(e). After that period, the goal is to approve or deny complete applications and notify applicants within 72 hours when practical. People denied registration get an expedited appeal process, with decisions aimed within 72 hours when possible. The Secretary may require more or updated information, recheck registrants against the terrorist database, and revoke registration if someone is found to be a security risk, with notice and an opportunity to appeal.

Title 6, §488a

Domestic Security, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

The Secretary shall regulate the sale and transfer of ammonium nitrate by an ammonium nitrate facility in accordance with this part to prevent the misappropriation or use of ammonium nitrate in an act of terrorism. Such regulations shall be carried out by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

(b)Ammonium nitrate mixtures

Not later than 90 days after December 26, 2007, the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of appropriate Federal departments and agencies (including the Secretary of Agriculture), shall, after notice and an opportunity for comment, establish a threshold percentage for ammonium nitrate in a substance.

(c)Registration of owners of ammonium nitrate facilities

(1)Registration

The Secretary shall establish a process by which any person that—

(A)owns an ammonium nitrate facility is required to register with the Department; and

(B)registers under subparagraph (A) is issued a registration number for purposes of this part.

(2)Registration information

Any person applying to register under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary—

(A)the name, address, and telephone number of each ammonium nitrate facility owned by that person;

(B)the name of the person designated by that person as the point of contact for each such facility, for purposes of this part; and

(C)such other information as the Secretary may determine is appropriate.

(d)Registration of ammonium nitrate purchasers

(1)Registration

The Secretary shall establish a process by which any person that—

(A)intends to be an ammonium nitrate purchaser is required to register with the Department; and

(B)registers under subparagraph (A) is issued a registration number for purposes of this part.

(2)Registration information

Any person applying to register under paragraph (1) as an ammonium nitrate purchaser shall submit to the Secretary—

(A)the name, address, and telephone number of the applicant; and

(B)the intended use of ammonium nitrate to be purchased by the applicant.

(e)Records

(1)Maintenance of records

The owner of an ammonium nitrate facility shall—

(A)maintain a record of each sale or transfer of ammonium nitrate, during the two-year period beginning on the date of that sale or transfer; and

(B)include in such record the information described in paragraph (2).

(2)Specific information required

For each sale or transfer of ammonium nitrate, the owner of an ammonium nitrate facility shall—

(A)record the name, address, telephone number, and registration number issued under subsection (c) or (d) of each person that purchases ammonium nitrate, in a manner prescribed by the Secretary;

(B)if applicable, record the name, address, and telephone number of an agent acting on behalf of the person described in subparagraph (A), at the point of sale;

(C)record the date and quantity of ammonium nitrate sold or transferred; and

(D)verify the identity of the persons described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), as applicable, in accordance with a procedure established by the Secretary.

(3)Protection of information

In maintaining records in accordance with paragraph (1), the owner of an ammonium nitrate facility shall take reasonable actions to ensure the protection of the information included in such records.

(f)Exemption for explosive purposes

The Secretary may exempt from this part a person producing, selling, or purchasing ammonium nitrate exclusively for use in the production of an explosive under a license or permit issued under chapter 40 of title 18.

(g)Consultation

In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Agriculture, States, and appropriate private sector entities, to ensure that the access of agricultural producers to ammonium nitrate is not unduly burdened.

(h)Data confidentiality

(1)In general

Notwithstanding section 552 of title 5 or the USA PATRIOT ACT (Public Law 107–56; 115 Stat. 272), and except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may not disclose to any person any information obtained under this part.

(2)Exception

The Secretary may disclose any information obtained by the Secretary under this part to—

(A)an officer or employee of the United States, or a person that has entered into a contract with the United States, who has a need to know the information to perform the duties of the officer, employee, or person; or

(B)to a State agency under section 488c of this title, under appropriate arrangements to ensure the protection of the information.

(i)Registration procedures and check of terrorist screening database

(1)Registration procedures

(A)Generally

The Secretary shall establish procedures to efficiently receive applications for registration numbers under this part, conduct the checks required under paragraph (2), and promptly issue or deny a registration number.

(B)Initial six-month registration period

The Secretary shall take steps to maximize the number of registration applications that are submitted and processed during the six-month period described in section 488e(e) of this title.

(2)Check of terrorist screening database

(A)Check required

The Secretary shall conduct a check of appropriate identifying information of any person seeking to register with the Department under subsection (c) or (d) against identifying information that appears in the terrorist screening database of the Department.

(B)Authority to deny registration number

If the identifying information of a person seeking to register with the Department under subsection (c) or (d) appears in the terrorist screening database of the Department, the Secretary may deny issuance of a registration number under this part.

(3)Expedited review of applications

(A)In general

Following the six-month period described in section 488e(e) of this title, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, issue or deny registration numbers under this part not later than 72 hours after the time the Secretary receives a complete registration application, unless the Secretary determines, in the interest of national security, that additional time is necessary to review an application.

(B)Notice of application status

In all cases, the Secretary shall notify a person seeking to register with the Department under subsection (c) or (d) of the status of the application of that person not later than 72 hours after the time the Secretary receives a complete registration application.

(4)Expedited appeals process

(A)Requirement

(i)Appeals process

The Secretary shall establish an expedited appeals process for persons denied a registration number under this part.

(ii)Time period for resolution

The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, resolve appeals not later than 72 hours after receiving a complete request for appeal unless the Secretary determines, in the interest of national security, that additional time is necessary to resolve an appeal.

(B)Consultation

The Secretary, in developing the appeals process under subparagraph (A), shall consult with appropriate stakeholders.

(C)Guidance

The Secretary shall provide guidance regarding the procedures and information required for an appeal under subparagraph (A) to any person denied a registration number under this part.

(5)Restrictions on use and maintenance of information

(A)In general

Any information constituting grounds for denial of a registration number under this section shall be maintained confidentially by the Secretary and may be used only for making determinations under this section.

(B)Sharing of information

Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, the Secretary may share any such information with Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, as appropriate.

(6)Registration information

(A)Authority to require information

The Secretary may require a person applying for a registration number under this part to submit such information as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of this section.

(B)Requirement to update information

The Secretary may require persons issued a registration under this part to update registration information submitted to the Secretary under this part, as appropriate.

(7)Re-checks against terrorist screening database

(A)Re-checks

The Secretary shall, as appropriate, recheck persons provided a registration number pursuant to this part against the terrorist screening database of the Department, and may revoke such registration number if the Secretary determines such person may pose a threat to national security.

(B)Notice of revocation

The Secretary shall, as appropriate, provide prior notice to a person whose registration number is revoked under this section and such person shall have an opportunity to appeal, as provided in paragraph (4).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The USA PATRIOT ACT, referred to in subsec. (h)(1), is Pub. L. 107–56, Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 272, also known as the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 2001 Amendment note set out under section 1 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure, and Tables.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–278 inserted at end “Such

Regulations

shall be carried out by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.”