Fertilizer sales to be monitored

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2001 | 10:09 a.m.

The FBI has asked the Nevada Department of Agriculture for its assistance in checking plant nurseries and retail stores for unusually large sales of bagged fertilizer, which could be used to produce a crude yet powerful bomb, the Agriculture Department said.

Jim Connelley of the Agriculture Department said FBI officials have asked the state agency's six agents to watch for large sales of ammonium nitrate or urea in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Ammonium nitrate was used to trigger the explosion at the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995. Ammonium nitrate and urea are common ingredients in most packaged fertilizers.

Connelley, who is based in Elko, said that in addition to preventing foreign plants and invasive insects, such as Africanized bees, from entering Nevada, the Agriculture Department has a new job, namely watching for large scale fertilizer sales.

The Agricultural Department's Lt. Dennis Journigan sent a letter on Sept. 21 alerting retailers, such as Home Depot, Wal-Mart and smaller businesses, to be cognizant of suspicious fertilizer sales.

Connelley said there have been no reports of suspicious sales within the state.

On large farms or ranches, it isn't uncommon for owners to order 25 tons or more of ammonium nitrate to fertilize fields, he said.

"However, if a resident in Las Vegas ordered that much, it'd be suspicious," Connelley said. Connelley suggested people report any suspicious activity by calling either the FBI or the Agriculture Department. Journigan can be reached at (775) 738-8076.

The FBI can be reached toll-free at 1-866-483-5137 or on its website (ifccfbi.gov).