Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

Isn't it nice not to have to worry about this stuff?
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Saturday, December 22, 2007
Farmers urged to review Homeland Security guidelines
http://dchieftain.com/news/76676-12-22-07.html

Jane Moorman New Mexico State University

Chemicals of interest include chlorine and ammonium nitrate

Farmers and agribusiness operators should review chemical guidelines and
determine whether they will be affected by a new U.S. Department of
Homeland Security regulation, according to Billy Dictson, director of the
office of bio-security at the Southwest Border Food Safety and Defense
Center at New Mexico State University's College of Agriculture and Home
Economics.

"In an effort to increase the security of high-risk chemical facilities,
the 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,"
Dictson said. "Those required to go through this initial screening must do
so before Jan. 21."

Failure to comply with the regulations could result in civil penalties of
up to $25,000 per day or the shutdown of the facility.

"New Mexico farmers and agribusinesses storing fertilizers, pesticides and
other chemicals might be affected by these new regulations, so it is
important that they quickly determine if they meet the new federal
requirements," said Jeff Witte, New Mexico Department of Agriculture's
director of the office of agriculture bio-security at the Southwest Border
Food Safety and Defense Center. "I urge all producers and businesses to
review the requirements and contact the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security if they have any questions."

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 in 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.

For more information on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Chemical
Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, or to view the chemicals of interest
list, visit www.dhs.gov/chemicalsecurity.

For questions when completing the top screen, call the Chemical Facility
Anti-Terrorism Standards help desk toll-free at (866) 323-2957.