Farmers in Williams and McKenzie counties who are required to lock up anhydrous ammonia tanks have submitted reimbursement requests for more than 300 locks.

That pleases state officials, who said they expected fewer requests.

"In our minds, that was a very good response," Insurance Commissioner Jim Poolman said.

The program approved by state lawmakers last year is aimed at cracking down on people who steal the fertilizer to use in manufacturing the illegal drug methamphetamine. Farmers in the two counties were required to put valve locks on mobile nurse tanks if those tanks are left unattended, or face fines.

Tank owners in the northwestern North Dakota counties had until May 1 to submit requests for reimbursement.

"They have followed the rules very well," Poolman said. "Now it's a matter of determining the effectiveness of the lock program."

If it proves successful, the program could be expanded statewide. Poolman said he and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem will consult with local law enforcement officials in the two counties to determine if the locks lead to a reduction in chemical thefts.

Poolman and Stenehjem also plan to travel to Iowa on May 20 to meet with law enforcement officials there. Some Iowa counties have a similar tank lock program.

About $2,000 is left from the $26,000 the state had available to spend on tank lock reimbursements, Poolman said.

The money came from NoDak Mutual Insurance, which supplied $13,000, and federal homeland security money. With the remaining funds, "We should be able to test other devices for bulk tank sites, like cameras," Poolman said.