Recent events has intensified the nation's interest in the security of a wide range of chemicals and materials. Over the past few years the state of Minnesota, federal government agencies, and industry have been quietly working to increase the security of wholesale and retail pesticide and agrichemical storage facilities. Here in Minnesota that concern in part stemmed from the rise in the number of meth drug labs in rural Minnesota.  Recently, addition information has been made available and a number of actions have been taken.

Some people in the general public, as well as people who handle pesticides, have been asking questions and seeking information about the security of pesticides in the United States. 

Below are links to public web sites with information related to security of pesticides and agrochemicals.

• Communities and Families Take Control of Safety and Security
• Protecting and, Food, and the Environment
• Preparing Community Response
• Supporting Families and Children

• Part 7: Safe Handling of Pesticides (for farmers). Private Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, University of Minnesota Extension Service. Available at local county extension offices

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• Safe Handling Pesticides (for commercial and noncommercial pesticide applicators) Category A: General Ground Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, University of Minnesota Extension Service. Available from the St. Paul Campus University of Minnesota bookstore. Downloadable on-line order form.
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• Transport, Storage and Disposal of Pesticides (PDF file). EC01-2507, University of Nebraska

•  Designing Facilities for Pesticide & Fertilizer Containment, MWPS-37. Handbook on safe and secure pesticide storage. Available from Department of Biosystems and Ag Engineering, U of MN.

• Anti-Terrorism Efforts  Minnesota Department of Agriculture:
• Alert (PDF file) 

• Focus on Agriculture/Food Terrorism. Special Edition of Agrichemical and Environmental News.  Nov. 2001, No. 187. A monthly newsletter on pesticides and related environmental issues produced by Washington State Cooperative Extension. 

• Biosecurity Web Site US Department of Agriculture.

• Be Aware of Pesticide Security and Safety. University of Nebraska. Basic information reflecting national recommendations.

 
• Security Considerations for Agricultural Aircraft Operators. National Agricultural Aviation Association.

• Pesticide Storage Security. October, 2001 (PDF file). Pesticide Education & Assessment Program, University of Maryland extension service.

• Pesticide Safety and Site Security. US Environmental Protection Agency 

• Local Emergency Response Planning Committees (LEPCs) and Deliberate Releases: Addressing Terrorist Activities in the Local Emergency Plan (PDF file). US Environmental Protection Agency. EPA 550-F-01-005. August, 2001. One part of the work performed by the Minnesota Emergency Response Commission. NOTE: Released a few weeks BEFORE September 11, 2001.

• Minnesota Emergency Response Commission. State agency with primary responsibility for managing chemical emergency response, tracking hazardous materials in the state, compliance to federal hazardous materials reporting regulations, and more. 

NATIONAL RESPONSE SYSTEM
US EPA Reg.5- (312) 353-2318

US Environmental Protection Agency's Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) Hotline 1-800-424-9346

National Pesticide Information Center 1-800 -858-7378