The House Tuesday passed a bill that would regulate the production, sale and purchase of explosive chemicals like those used in the Oklahoma City bombing.

Anyone who owns or purchases ammonium nitrate, a common ingredient in agricultural fertilizers, would have to register with the Homeland Security Department. The department could issue fines of up to $50,000 if someone sells the chemical without first registering.

The bill (HR 1680) passed by voice vote.

Terrorists have used ammonium nitrate to build bombs. On April 19, 1995, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols used 108 55-pound bags of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and three 55-gallon drums of diesel oil to bomb the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people.

The bill would require ammonium nitrate facility owners to maintain a record of sales transactions for two years after the sales.

House Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said the bill ensures the legitimate use of the fertilizer.

The bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to compare names of potential purchasers against the terrorist watch list and determine, within 72 hours, whether to assign registration numbers. It would prohibit owners of ammonium nitrate facilities from transferring the chemical to any person not registered with the department.

The House Homeland Security Committee approved the bill by voice vote in April. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., introduced a companion measure (S 1463) in May.