---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 488f"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "488f"
heading: "Protection from civil liability"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/488f"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Coordination with Non-Federal Entities; Inspector General; United States Secret Service; Coast Guard; General Provisions"
  - "Part J — Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate"
---

# §488f. Protection from civil liability

- (a) **In general—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an owner of an [ammonium nitrate facility](/usc/6/488.md?p=2) that in good faith refuses to sell or transfer [ammonium nitrate](/usc/6/488.md?p=1) to any person, or that in good faith discloses to the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) or to appropriate law enforcement authorities an actual or attempted purchase or transfer of [ammonium nitrate](/usc/6/488.md?p=1), based upon a reasonable belief that the person seeking purchase or transfer of [ammonium nitrate](/usc/6/488.md?p=1) may use the [ammonium nitrate](/usc/6/488.md?p=1) to create an explosive device to be employed in an [act of terrorism](/usc/6/444.md?p=2-A) (as defined in [section 3077 of title 18](/usc/18/3077.md)), or to use [ammonium nitrate](/usc/6/488.md?p=1) for any other unlawful purpose, shall not be liable in any civil action relating to that refusal to sell [ammonium nitrate](/usc/6/488.md?p=1) or that disclosure.
- (b) **Reasonable belief—** A reasonable belief that a person may use [ammonium nitrate](/usc/6/488.md?p=1) to create an explosive device to be employed in an [act of terrorism](/usc/6/444.md?p=2-A) under [subsection (a)](#a) may not solely be based on the race, sex, national origin, creed, religion, status as a veteran, or status as a member of the Armed Forces of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) of that person.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title VIII, § 899G, as added Pub. L. 110–161, div. E, title V, § 563(a), Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2089.)