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AGRICULTURE FACING SCRUTINY FROM HOMELAND SECURITY ON CHEMICALS
Farmers and agribusinesses should review guidelines to determine whether they will be affected by a new U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulation, according to Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass.
The federal Department of Homeland Security recently released a list of chemicals that, if possessed by a facility in a specified quantity, would require them to complete a Chemical Security Anti-Terrorism Top-Screen assessment. Those required to go through this initial screening must do so before January 21, 2008.
Chemicals of interest and quantities that are most likely to affect agriculture include, but are not limited to:
- Chlorine – 2,500 pounds (bulk, not bagged or in some other transportation package)
- Chlorine – 500 pounds (bagged, on a trailer, or in some other transportation package)
- Anhydrous ammonia – 10,000 pounds (four typical pull-behind tanks, completely loaded)
- Ammonium nitrate – 2,000 pounds (bagged, on a trailer, or in some other transportation package)
- Potassium nitrate – 400 pounds (bagged, on a trailer, or in some other transportation package)
- Sodium nitrate – 400 pounds (bagged, on a trailer, or in some other transportation package)
- Propane – 60,000 pounds
A complete list of chemicals and amounts that would trigger a Top-Screen assessment can be found at www.dhs.gov/chemicalsecurity under the “Final Rule – Appendix A” link. The Top-Screen assessment can be accessed from the same page under the “Chemical Safety Assessment Tool” link.
For questions when completing the Top-Screen assessment, call the automated Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards help desk at 866-323-2957.
Failure to comply with the regulations could result in civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day or closure of the facility.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.
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