Explosives Publications

The annual Explosives Incident Report (EIR) reviews bombing and explosives related incident and threat from information reported to the United States Bomb Data Center through the Bomb Arson Tracking System (BATS).

Published/Revised: September 19, 2016

This publication provides vital safety information to persons and organizations encountering suspicious packages and/or bomb threats. Last updated May 2016.

Published/Revised: May 13, 2016

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to clarify that the requirements of part 555 do not apply to model rocket motors consisting of ammonium perchlorate composite propellant, black powder, or other similar low explosives, containing no more than 62.5 grams of total propellant weight, and designed as single-use motors or as reload kits capable of reloading no more than 62.5 grams of propellant into a reusable motor casing.

Published/Revised: May 12, 2016

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to clarify that the term "propellant actuated device" does not include hobby rocket motors or rocket-motor reload kits consisting of or containing ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (‘‘APCP’’), black powder, or other similar low explosives.

Published/Revised: May 12, 2016

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (‘‘ATF’’) to clarify that the term ‘‘propellant actuated device’’ does not include hobby rocket motors or rocket-motor reload kits consisting of or containing ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (‘‘APCP’’), black powder, or other similar low explosives. 

Published/Revised: May 6, 2016

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by allowing shock tube to be stored with detonators because these materials when stored together do not pose a mass detonation hazard. Shock tube is a small diameter plastic laminate tube coated with a very thin layer of explosive material. When initiated, it transmits a low energy wave from one point to another. The outer surface of the tube remains intact during and after functioning.

Published/Revised: May 6, 2016

 The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is amending the regulations to implement the provisions of the Safe Explosives Act, Title XI, Subtitle C of Pub. L. 107–296, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (enacted Nov. 25, 2002). 

Published/Revised: May 6, 2016

The purpose of this booklet is to provide industry members with useful tips, techniques, and tools developed by ATF, the International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE), and the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) for properly securing explosive materials. Last updated May 2016.

Published/Revised: May 1, 2016

This form is used to conduct an investigation to establish if it is likely that the applicant will act in a manner dangerous to public safety or contrary to public interest.

Published/Revised: November 1, 2015

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is amending the regulations to implement the provisions of the Safe Explosives Act, Title XI, Subtitle C of Pub. L. 107–296, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (enacted Nov. 25, 2002).

Published/Revised: September 25, 2015

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking, in part, pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) which requires an agency to review within ten years of publication, rules for which an agency prepared a final regulatory flexibility analysis addressing the impact of the rule on small businesses or other small entities. Based on comments we have received in response to the RFA analysis, this document proposes amendments to the explosives regulations relating to fireworks.

Published/Revised: September 25, 2015

Notice of List of Explosive Materials

Published/Revised: September 23, 2015

The Department of Justice proposes amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regulations to remove the reference to an outdated guidance document in an explanatory note following the table of separation distances of ammonium nitrate and blasting agents from explosives or blasting agents. The Department also proposes amending that note to clarify that those separation distance requirements apply to all ammonium nitrate.

Published/Revised: May 29, 2015

This overview is intended as an aid to compliance with regulatory requirements—not as a replacement. Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555 provide specific regulatory requirements for explosive materials.

Published/Revised: May 11, 2015

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been asked to explain the application of 27 CFR 181.11, as it relates to “Inhabited Building.”

Published/Revised: May 11, 2015

Fireworks are a common component used in Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The US Government is asking consumer fireworks retailers to be aware of this phenomenon and familiarize themselves with some possible indicators of suspicious activity.

Published/Revised: May 11, 2015

This is an open letter to all federal explosives licensees and permittees in regard to inquiries about black powder exceptions under the federal explosives laws.

Published/Revised: June 30, 2014

This publication, last updated June 2013, is an overview intended as an aid to compliance with regulatory requirements, not a replacement for the Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555.

Published/Revised: June 1, 2013

The purpose of this open letter is to provide information regarding ATF revisiting its guidelines for the application of the tables of distances for the storage of certain explosive materials.

Published/Revised: September 17, 2012

ATF authorizes alternate storage of display fireworks in fixed, unmarked, and uncovered bins inside explosives storage magazines provided all of the requirements of this ruling are met.

Published/Revised: May 29, 2012

The purpose of this letter is to remind all federal law enforcement agencies and military components of certain provisions of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 pertaining to plastic explosives that do not contain a detection agent.

Published/Revised: April 26, 2012

This publication outlines and defines the compliance guidelines for federal explosive licensees and permittees, per the federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555.

Published/Revised: March 1, 2012

This publication defines what federally licensed explosives dealers must do for compliance, as per the Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555.

Published/Revised: January 1, 2011

This publication defines what each federally licensed importer must do for compliance, as per the Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555.

Published/Revised: December 1, 2011

The purpose of this letter is to clarify the definition of "display fireworks" in the federal explosives regulations. 

Published/Revised: November 7, 2011