Publications Library

ATF occasionally issues publications to inform the industries it regulates and the general public about the laws and regulations administered and enforced by ATF. These include guidebooks, newsletters, brochures, studies, and reports.

Title Description Category Document Type
Explosives Industry Newsletter - June 2023 (501 KB)

What’s In This Issue: New Chief, EIPB; Importation and Manufacture of Small Arms Ammunition and Components; Importation of Articles Pyrotechnic Marked as Display Fireworks; Indoor Storage in Residences/Dwellings; Open letter – Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Distance Requirements for Ammonium Nitrate Products; Black Powder Exemption Reminder; Less Lethal Munitions Marking Requirements; ATF Ruling 2011-3 Reminder; Government Exemptions; Storage at Correctional Facilities; Q&As; Receiving ATF Website Update Notices

Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter - November 2001 (578 KB)
What’s In This Issue: A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF, ARSON & EXPLOSIVES PROGRAMS DIVISION; TRANSFERS OF EXPLOSIVES IN-STATE; ATF MEETS WITH ISEE, PGI; FUGITIVE CORNER; CONTACT ATF ON ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION TOPICS; THIRD QUARTER 2001 EXPLOSIVES THEFTS
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 2013 (1556 KB)
What’s in This Issue: New Publication; Exploding Ammunition Requirements; Smoke Producing Devices; Reagents; Canadian Type 4 Magazines vs. U.S. Type 2 Magazines; Hardwood or Softwood?; Interior Walls for Type 1 Magazines; Gun Loading Facilities; Horizontally-Mounted Hoods; Indoor Storage Reminders; Recordkeeping Reminders; Permittee Disposal of Surplus Stock; Questions and Answers; Explosives Thefts from 2006 thru 2012
Explosives Newsletter
afmer_2021_final_web_report.pdf (168 KB) Explosives Report
Publication on Voluntary Steps to Prepare for a Pending Natural Disaster (ATF P 5400.16) (986 KB)
Voluntary Steps for Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees to prepare for and recover from natural disasters.
Explosives Guide
Compliance Guidelines for Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees (ATF P 5400.23) (286 KB)
This publication outlines and defines the compliance guidelines for federal explosive licensees and permittees, per the Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR, Part 555.
Explosives Guide
afmer_2021_interim_web_report.pdf (256 KB) Explosives Report
General Variance Requests (Presentation - Sept. 10, 2020) (2710 KB)

This presentation details when a variance to deviate from the explosives regulations may be requested, to whom they may be issued, where to direct such requests and documentation from the requestor to assist in evaluation of those requests.

Explosives Guide
2021_explosives_incident_report_eir.pdf (1993 KB)

2021 Explosives Incident Report

Explosives Report
TD-400: This final rule amends regulations to clarify the meanings of terms, increase license and permit fees, eliminate duplication in licensing, relax the licensing requirements for on-site manufacturers, implement a storage notification requirement (104 KB)

This final rule amends regulations to clarify the meanings of terms, increase license and permit fees, eliminate duplication in licensing, relax the licensing requirements for on-site manufacturers, implement a storage notification requirement for manufacturers and other storers of explosives, update the theft/loss hotline number for reporting thefts or losses of explosives, and make minor modifications to regulations on storage.

Explosives Report
Explosives Industry Newsletter - December 2010 (770 KB)

What's in this issue?: New Chief of Explosives Industry Programs Branch, New Web Page, Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, ATF Ruling—Storage of Loaded Perforating Gun Assemblies, Dosed Gas Systems,m Federal Explosives Exemptions for U.S. Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies, Fireworks Storage Bins, Marking Requirements and Transfers of Damaged or Defective Display Fireworks, The Federal Explosives Regulations Pertaining to Fuses, and Fuzes Activities Conducted at Remote Storage Facilities, Note to Explosives Importers or User Permittees Importing Explosive Materials, Requirements for Marking Packages, Notification of Explosives Magazine Changes, Faxed or Scanned Copies of Licenses and Permits, Key Federal Agencies with Oversight over Explosives, Explosives Thefts

Explosives Newsletter
Recordkeeping Requirements for Explosives Permittees and Limited Permittees (ATF P 5400.20) (518 KB)

This publication defines what each Federal explosives permittee and limited permitee must do for compliance, as per the Federal explosives regulations, at 27 CFR, Part 555.

Explosives Guide
Explosives Industry Newsletter - October 2021 (526 KB)

What's in this Issue?: New Assistant Director and Deputy Assistant Director, Enforcement Programs and Services; FEID Personnel Changes, Updated Form for Explosives Theft or Loss; Articles Pyrotechnic Exemption; Overview of IMESAFR; Reporting Employee Possessors; Changes to the List of Explosive Materials; Report Suspicious Activity; Underground Storage Reminder; Authorized Persons List; Question and Answers; Updated Publications; 2020 ATF Webinar

Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter - August 2015 (406 KB)
What’s in this Issue:  New Acting Director; New Assistant Director, Enforcement; Programs and Services; New Chief of EIPB; Magazine Identification Program; Less Lethal Devices; Fireworks Reminders; NPRM to Remove Reference Note; Marking and Recording Bulk Explosives; Internal Transfers of Explosives; Plywood, Hardwood and ATF Ruling 76-18; Using Commercial Records Explosives Thefts—2013 thru 2014
Explosives Newsletter
Department of Defense Contractor Inspections: ATF Inspection Process (Explosives) (64 KB)
This document provides information on ATF’s compliance inspection process and is intended to help Federal firearms or explosives licensees who are DOD contractors prepare for and participate in an ATF compliance inspection.
Explosives Guide
Explosives Industry Newsletter-January 2014 (2373 KB)
What’s in This Issue: Meet ATF’s New Director, B. Todd Jones; New Deputy Division Chief; Contingency and Shared Storage; Binary Explosives: Checking Laws; Alternate Identification Markings; Black Powder Lifters; More on Hoods; Underground Storage Reminder; Explosives Disposal; ATF and the Interagency Committee on Explosives; ATF Hosts QRA Workshop; Questions and Answers; Licensee/Permittee Percentages; Licensee/Permittee Population by Type
Explosives Newsletter
Publication on Table of Distance Requirements (ATF P 5400.25) (1190 KB)
This publication provides the location for the Federal explosive regulations that require outdoor explosives storage magazines to be located.
Explosives Guide
Publication on Fireworks Reminders (ATF P 5400.24) (1598 KB)
This publication 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.
Explosives Guide
Explosives in Transit (307 KB)
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has regulatory and civil enforcement authority over the transportation of explosive materials in commerce.
Explosives Guide
Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 1997 (248 KB)
What’s In This Issue: COMPUTERIZED RECORDKEEPING SYSTEMS; BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS DISTRICT OFFICES; Letters to the Editor; ITEMS OF INTEREST; ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICT EXPLOSIVE OFFICERS; ANTITERRORISM AND EFFECTIVE DEATH PENALTY ACT OF 1996; ATF and the INTERNET; EXPLOSIVES SECURITY; National Repository of Arson and Explosive Incidents; THEATRICALFLASH POWDER; BE AWARE AMERICA!;
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-August 2000 (160 KB)
What’s In This Issue: THE NEW ATF STRUCTURE; ATF PUBLISHES FINAL RULE IN FEDERAL REGISTER; AMENDMENT TO LICENSING REQUIREMENTS INTENDED TO EASE BURDEN FOR ON-SITE MANUFACTURERS; STORAGE REQUIREMENTS—DISPLAY FIREWORKS; CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR TYPE 4 MAGAZINES CLARIFIED; LETTERS TO THE EDITOR; REMINDER!!; U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD; DISPOSING OF DETERIORATED EXPLOSIVES; ATF REACHES INDUSTRY MEMBERS VIA INTERNET
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-January 2001 (572 KB)
What’s In This Issue: A Message from the Chief, Arson & Explosives Programs Division; The New Orange Book; Variances; User Permits and User-Limited Permits; Verbal Opinions vs. “Have-it-in-Writing”; Fireworks Table of Distance Issues; Plastic Explosives; Thefts or Losses of Explosives; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - Markings on Imported Explosives; Personnel Changes Within the Arson and Explosives Programs Division; International Explosives Assistance
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-June 2001 (181 KB)
What’s In This Issue: A Message from the Chief, Arson & Explosives Programs Division; International Explosives Assistance;Philadelphia Field Division Bombing Incidents; Barricades; Black Powder Sales; Safety, Storage, and Illegal Devices; Special Events Fireworks Variances; First Quarter 2001 Explosives Thefts
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-February 2002 (841 KB)
What’s In This Issue: MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF, ARSON & EXPLOSIVES PROGRAMS DIVISION; CHANGES IN ARSON & EXPLOSIVES PROGRAMSDIVISION; ATF ATTENDS UN MEETING; ISEE, APA, TO HOST ANNUAL CONFERENCES IN FEBRUARY; CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP LICENSING REQUIREMENTS; STORAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR DELAYS & DETONATORS; MAGAZINE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; VARIANCE REQUESTS NOTICE; FUGITIVE CORNER; DAILY MAGAZINE TRANSACTION SUMMARY; ATF INVITES QUESTIONS ON EXPLOSIVES TOPICS; NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION; Theft of Explosives
Explosives Newsletter
Explosives Industry Newsletter-May 2002 (1852 KB)
What’s In This Issue: A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF, ARSON & EXPLOSIVES PROGRAMS DIVISION; CHANGES IN THE A & E DIVISION; BULK SALUTES AND LICENSING; VIOLENT OFFENDER BRANCH GETS NEW CHIEF; OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSET CONTROLS (OFAC) RESTRICTIONS; PHONENUMBER FOR NATIONAL LICENSING CENTER CHANGED; ATF’S LAB NEW FIRST RESPONSE FIELD LAB VEHICLES; ATF MEETS WITH ISEE, APA; EXPLOSIVES QUESTIONS; EXPLOSIVES FORMS; FUGITIVE CORNER; NEWSLETTER DISTRIBUTION; FIRST QUARTER 2002 EXPLOSIVE THEFTS
Explosives Newsletter
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