A background check to store propane?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has decided to take aim at farmers who might have “too much” propane on hand.
According to an article in the Southerner, proposed regulations would make propane a “chemical of interest” if kept in quantities of 7500 pounds (1785 gallons) or more. That’s not an issue if you just use propane for your backyard grill, but if you’re a farmer it could cost you.
Up till now, farmers have been able to keep up to 10,000 pounds of propane for farm use without incurring any special cost or scrutiny. Eighty percent of US farms use propane, so this could affect a lot of people.
Farmers are upset about two things. First, DHS is going to run a background check on them. I’m sure the bureaucrats in Washington feel there is a need to do this, but let’s think for a moment.
Most of the farmers I know are living pretty much where they grew up. Most of them have got a substantial investment in their farm. Most of them qualify as rock-solid citizens. Sure, it’s possible that one of them is going to store propane for nefarious purposes, but my bet is that the farmer’s […]