March 16, 2007

LANSING - The Michigan Agriculture Commission recently approved the Anhydrous Ammonia Safety and Security Practices (AASSPs), which are voluntary recommendations addressing the storage and handling practices of agricultural use of anhydrous ammonia. Sellers and end users implementing the AASSPs are granted immunity from personal injury and property damage claims caused by anhydrous ammonia theft or unlawful use.

Anhydrous ammonia is a key ingredient in the illegal production of the drug methamphetamine. The wrongful use of anhydrous ammonia is of great concern to the agriculture community since it is widely used as a low-cost form of nitrogen fertilizer which is directly applied to farmland and used to make other types of fertilizers.

"The adoption of AASSPs by Michigan producers and the fertilizer industry helps protect anhydrous ammonia fertilizer for its agricultural use and curb its theft in Michigan for illegal use," said Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Mitch Irwin.

The AASSPs recommend farmers and fertilizer companies implement the following:

• Store anhydrous ammonia in a tank equipped with a functioning tank or valve lock.
• Store anhydrous ammonia with a substance that is or contains a dye that will, on release from the container, stain objects it comes in contact with, including skin and clothing, in a highly visible manner.
• Nurse tank stewardship including removing tank hoses when not in use, parking tanks downwind of sensitive areas, not leaving tanks sitting in a field overnight and not keeping full tanks on site any longer than absolutely necessary.

The AASSPs were developed in response to the Anhydrous Ammonia Security Act, Public Act 417 of 2006. This Act directed the Agriculture Commission to develop and issue AASSPs by March 29, 2007 with input from MDA, Michigan State State Police, Michigan State University Extension, producer groups, fertilizer industry and local law enforcement. A workgroup with these partners was organized last fall to identify the safety and security practices.

The AASSPs are available at www.michigan.gov/mda or by calling MDA at (517) 241-2979.