COALEX REPORT 345

	Coalex Report 345

This is the Office of Surface Mining's library of COALEX Research Reports. COALEX is a database of mining and reclamation information, including the Surface Mining Law and regulations, maintained in LEXIS-NEXIS -- a commercial, on-line research service. These reports have been compiled under a cooperative agreement between the Office of Surface Mining and the Interstate Mining Compact Commission, which represents most U.S. coal producing states. The following report includes an analysis of a specific issue requested by a state regulatory authority with responsibility for carrying out the Surface Mining Law. Copies of the research reports and attachments are available to the public, upon request. For additional information, or to obtain copies of the listed attachments, contact Ron Tarquinio by phone at (202) 208-2882 or by e-mail at rtarquin@osmre.gov.

COALEX State Inquiry Report - 345
July, 1998

Steve Walz
Division Director
Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy
202 North 9th Street, 8th floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219

TOPIC: USE OF TAGGANTS IN EXPLOSIVES

SEARCH INQUIRY: Please conduct a survey of the IMCC member states to determine if any of
the states have studied the use of taggants (additives used to tag explosives and trace their
origin), when the study was conducted and who performed the study.

SEARCH RESULTS: Nine IMCC member states responded to the telephone survey (Arkansas,
Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania). None
of the states require the use of taggants in explosives and none knew of studies that their state
had conducted or was conducting. Only Illinois and Pennsylvania indicated having any discussion
on taggants. However, these states concluded that taggants are too expensive and too difficult to
use at this time.

Research in news files of LEXIS-NEXIS, retrieved two relevant articles describing a seminar held
by the National Academy of Science and a study conducted by the National Research Council
[NRC] on deterrents to the criminal use of explosive chemicals. A discussion of the use of
taggants was part of these articles.

A search of the National Academy Press on the Internet yielded a summary of the NRC's study,
"Containing the Threat from Illegal Bombings", which was published in March, 1998. Regarding
taggants, the study concluded that taggants could "provide an additional tool to law enforcement
in solving and prosecuting criminal cases"; however, "the costs of a tagging program do not
currently appear to be justified on the basis of the potential benefits."

Contacting the Institute of Makers of Explosives [IME] yielded a copy of the statement on
taggant issues presented by the Institute's president at the National Academy of Science's
seminar that preceded NCR's study and a statement on IME's position on taggants. According to
the IME, putting taggants in explosives is a "cost/benefit question". Instead of requiring the use
of taggants in the manufacture of explosives, a greater emphasis should be placed on requiring
greater security of stored explosives.

Researching federal and state legislation-related files in LEXIS-NEXIS retrieved a 1995 House
Committee Report describing the need to fund a study on taggants.

A list of the sources used to research this inquiry appears below, followed by a list of
attachments.

SOURCES
"CONTAINING THE THREAT FROM ILLEGAL BOMBINGS" may be ordered from National Academy
of Science's National Academy Press:
Internet site: www.nap.edu
National Academy Press Book Store 800-624-6242
2001 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20007

Institute of Makers of Explosives 202.429.9280 ext. 319
1120 19th Street, NW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20036
Contact: Cindy Douglas

LEXIS-NEXIS
Energy Library - All News File
Legislation Library - various files

ATTACHMENTS
A. Chemical Engineering, Vol. 105, No. 4, "Taggants Are No Match for Malicious Use of
Explosives" by Sandra Roberts (April, 1998).

B. Chemical Engineering, Vol. 104, No. 2, "D.C. Forum Discusses Taggant's Future"
(February, 1997).

C. "Containing the Threat from Illegal Bombings", National Academy Press, Washington, D.C.
1998 [Summary].

D. Statement of J. Christopher Ronay, President, Institute of Makers of Explosives before the
National Academy of Sciences Committee on Marking, Rendering Inert and Licensing of
Explosive Materials; Taggant Issues (January 13, 1997).

E. Committee Report on "Comprehensive Antiterrorism Act of 1995", House Rpt. 104-383,
104th Cong., 1st Sess. (December 5, 1995) [Excerpts].

Research conducted by: Joyce Zweben Scall

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