REGULATE AMMONIUM NITRATE SALES

House Bill 4635

Sponsor:  Rep. Goeff Hansen

Committee:  Agriculture

Complete to 5-10-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4635 AS INTRODUCED 4-19-05

The bill would amend Part 85 (Fertilizers) of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act to require the Department of Agriculture to promulgate rules concerning the distribution, sale, and storage of fertilizer containing ammonium nitrate. 

Rules regarding the storage of such fertilizers would have to address issues related to vandalism, theft, and unauthorized access.  Rules regarding the sale of such fertilizers would have to address a system to track sale and distribution, including maintaining records noting the date of the sale; the quantity purchased; the purchaser's name, address, and telephone number; as well as a requirement that certain kinds of identification be produced for allowable sales and a requirement that sale records be retained for at least two years.  Additionally, the rules would also have to address standards for determining whether sales are made out of season, under unusual patterns or circumstances, and in unusual amounts.

In addition, the bill specifies that the department could not suspend or revoke the license of a fertilizer distributor or manufacturer who refuses to sell fertilizer containing ammonium nitrate to a person who fails to comply with the department's rules regarding such fertilizer. 

MCL 324.8515 and 324.8516

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill has no apparent fiscal impact.

                                                                                          Legislative Analyst:   Mark Wolf

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:   William E. Hamilton

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.