Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
America's Cyber Defense Agency

Search

 
 
  • Topics
    Cybersecurity Best Practices
    Cyber Threats and Advisories
    Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
    Election Security
    Emergency Communications
    Industrial Control Systems
    Information and Communications Technology Supply Chain Security
    Partnerships and Collaboration
    Physical Security
    Risk Management
    How can we help?
    GovernmentEducational InstitutionsIndustryState, Local, Tribal, and TerritorialIndividuals and FamiliesSmall and Medium Businesses
  • Spotlight
  • Resources & Tools
    All Resources & Tools
    Services
    Programs
    Resources
    Training
    Groups
  • News & Events
    News
    Events
    Cybersecurity Alerts & Advisories
    Directives
    Request a CISA Speaker
    Congressional Testimony
  • Careers
    Benefits & Perks
    HireVue Applicant Reasonable Accommodations Process
    Hiring
    Resume & Application Tips
    Students & Recent Graduates
    Veteran and Military Spouses
    Work @ CISA
  • About
    Culture
    Divisions & Offices
    Regions
    Leadership
    Doing Business with CISA
    Contact Us
    Site Links
    CISA Administrative Subpoena
    Reporting Employee and Contractor Misconduct
    CISA GitHub
    Signature Verification
    Subpoena Process
Report a Cyber Issue
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Resources & Tools
  3. Programs
Share:

Resources & Tools

  • All Resources & Tools
  • Services
  • Programs
  • Resources
  • Training
  • Groups

Ammonium Nitrate Security Program

The Ammonium Nitrate Security Program (ANSP) is the proposed regulatory program developed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in response to a directive from Congress to "regulate the sale and transfer of ammonium nitrate by an ammonium nitrate facility ... to prevent the misappropriation or use of ammonium nitrate in an act of terrorism." See Section 563 of the 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Subtitle J, Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate, Public Law 110-161.

ANSP Overview

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical that exists in multiple concentrations and physical forms. It is principally used as an agricultural fertilizer, in the manufacturing of first aid products (such as cold packs), and explosives used in the mining and construction industries. In addition to its many legitimate uses, ammonium nitrate was the primary explosive used in the deadly Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995.

ANSP Proposed Rulemaking (August 2011)

The ANSP Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeks to reduce the likelihood of a terrorist attack involving ammonium nitrate by:

  • Creating a registration program for purchasers and sellers of ammonium nitrate.
  • Regulating transactions involving the sale or transfer of ammonium nitrate at the point of sale.
  • Establishing procedures for reporting a theft or loss of ammonium nitrate.
  • Requiring businesses to keep records of all ammonium nitrate transactions for two years.

Under the proposed program, each purchaser and seller would be required to apply for an Ammonium Nitrate (AN) Registered User Number with CISA, and each applicant would be vetted against the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB). Upon successful completion of the vetting process, approved individuals would be issued an AN Registered User Number that would allow them to engage in the sale, purchase, or transfer of ammonium nitrate.

Transactions involving the sale or transfer of ammonium nitrate would be regulated at the point of sale and procedures for reporting a theft or loss of ammonium nitrate would be established. Ammonium nitrate sellers would be required to deny sale or transfer of ammonium nitrate to individuals who:

  • Do not possess a valid AN Registered User Number accompanied by a valid photo ID.
  • Are not authorized by a person possessing a valid AN Registered User Number to act on their behalf as an agent.

The regulation would require businesses to keep records of all ammonium nitrate transactions for two years, and CISA may inspect and audit facility records to ensure compliance.

Read more about the statutes and regulations that govern the security of ammonium nitrate.

Priority Precursor Chemicals Study (November 2017)

On November 11, 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NAS) released the report on "Reducing the Threat of Improvised Explosive Device Attacks by Restricting Access to Explosive Precursor Chemicals," researching possible paths forward to safeguard the nation's people, infrastructure, and economy from terrorist use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The NAS report analyzed chemicals that have been used in IEDs either in the U.S. or internationally or are susceptible for use in IEDs. The study also developed a prioritized list of precursor chemicals used to make homemade explosives, analyzed commercial supply chains and identified potential vulnerabilities, examined U.S. and international regulation of the chemicals, and compared economic, security, and other tradeoffs among potential control strategies.

Technical Assessments Report (June 2019)

On June 3, 2019, CISA published a notice of availability of the Sandia National Laboratory's (SNL) Redacted Ammonium Nitrate Security Program Technical Assessments Report in the Federal Register (84 FR 25495) in connection with the proposed rule entitled "Ammonium Nitrate Security Program." The redacted SNL report can be accessed in the Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Program docket (DHS-2008-0076). Comments were accepted through September 3, 2019.

Contact

For any questions on the ANSP, please email CFATS@hq.dhs.gov.

  • Federal Government
  • Industry
  • Small and Medium Businesses
  • State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government
  • Chemical Security
Return to top
  • Topics
  • Spotlight
  • Resources & Tools
  • News & Events
  • Careers
  • About
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • RSS
CISA Central 888-282-0870 Central@cisa.dhs.gov
DHS Seal
CISA.gov
An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • About CISA
  • Accessibility
  • Budget and Performance
  • DHS.gov
  • FOIA Requests
  • No FEAR Act
  • Office of Inspector General
  • Privacy Policy
  • The White House
  • USA.gov
  • Website Feedback