OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Search conducted by: Joyce Zweben Scall Page 1 of 2

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

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.
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT

U.S. Department of the Interior

Search conducted by: Joyce Zweben Scall Page 2 of 2

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

1. "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 

 2001 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

 Washington, DC 20007

 Ph: 800-624-6242

2. Institute of Makers of Explosives 

 1120 19th Street, NW, Suite 310

 Washington, DC 20036

 Contact: Cindy Douglas

 Ph: 202-429-9280 ext. 319

3. 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].