Anhydrous ammonia is one of the ingredients used in making methamphetamine. People making meth have stolen anhydrous ammonia from tanks sitting in fields. Consider the following suggestions for managing anhydrous ammonia storage tanks and supplies to keep them safe from theft and misuse.
* Store all nurse tanks in well-lit areas, secure from unwelcome visitors.
* Try to avoid leaving nurse tanks in fields at night.
* Return empty nurse tanks to the owner/distributor as they become empty.
* Keep partially emptied tanks in a well-lit, secure area or an area with 360-degree visibility in an open part of a field.
* Lock access to nurse tank hoses and tank valves.
Various types of locks are available from manufacturers and certain dealers at prices ranging from about $60 to $200. Laws may be enacted to require dealers and farmers who own and use those anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks to put locks on them.
* Remove the nurse tank hose where possible.
* Maintain a locked storage area for nurse tank hoses.
* Lock all storage buildings containing dry fertilizer products at night and when not in use.
* Keep trucks, wagons, and spreaders containing dry fertilizer products indoors when not in use. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer can be used in making explosives.
* Keep the keys for locks in a secure location.