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Publications

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.

Document Type Description Category
Newsletter June 1997 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 473.1 KB]

What's In This Issue: Computerized Recordkeeping Systems; Letters to the Editor; Items of Interest; Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996; National Repository of Arson and Explosive Incidents; ATF and the Internet; Explosives Security; Airbags; Theatrical Flash Powder

Published/Revised: June 30, 1997

Explosives
Newsletter July 2017 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 396.44 KB]

What's In This Issue: Updated Safety & Security Publication; Structures Used for Indoor Storage; Firework Processes and Manufacturing; Distribution Dates; Identification of Explosive Materials; Q&As; How to read an Explosives License or Permit Number; List of Active Explosives Rulings

Published/Revised: July 31, 2017

Explosives
Newsletter January 2014 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 2.32 MB]

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

Published/Revised: January 31, 2014

Explosives
Newsletter January 2001 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 835.54 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; Fireworks Table of Distance Issues; Verbal Opinions vs. "Have-it-in-Writing"; 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; Summary of Explosives Thefts

Published/Revised: January 31, 2001

Explosives
Newsletter February 2002 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 1.04 MB]

What's In This Issue: A Message from the Chief, Arson & Explosives Programs Division; Changes in Arson & Explosives Programs Division; ISEE, APA, to Host Annual Conferences in February; Change of Ownership Licensing Requirements; Magazine Reporting Requirements; Storage Requirements for Delays & Detonators; Variance Requests Notice; Daily Magazine Transaction Summary; Fugitive Corner; Fourth Quarter 2001 Explosive Thefts

Published/Revised: February 28, 2002

Explosives
Newsletter December 2019 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 217.98 KB]

What's In This Issue: FEID Personnel Changes; ATF Field Division Realignment; 27 CFR, Part 555 - Technical Changes; Final Rule Creates Part 771; FEL eZ Check; Preventing Explosives Losses; E-Regulations That Work For You; ATF Explosives Detection Canines; New Mailing Address; Final Rule Removes Reference Note; Explosives Violations; Q&As; Licensee/Permittee Population; Submit a Tip; Explosives Thefts

Published/Revised: December 31, 2019

Explosives
Newsletter December 2014 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 1023.99 KB]

What's In This Issue: New Deputy Assistant Director; Explosives in Transit Web Page; Black Powder Open Letter; How to Address a Loss; Pyrotechnic Hobby Fuse Exemption; Seismic Exploration and Geophysical; Operation Requirements; Inventories and Records; No. 8 Blasting Caps; Acquiring, Changing, or Discontinuing an Explosives Business; New Publication; ATF Employees Receive ISEE President’s Award

Published/Revised: December 31, 2014

Explosives
Newsletter December 2012 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 2.74 MB]

What's In This Issue: New Explosives Industry Programs Branch Chief; ATF Explosives Industry Meeting in Washington; ATF Ruling 2012-5 Type 4 Wood Floors; Signage and Placarding at Regulated Mining Sites; Explosives Violations; Applying Tables of Distances at 555.218 and 555.220; Type 19 Licensed Activities; Recording Packaged Displays in the DSMT; Questions and Answers; EIPB at the AFSL Display Fireworks Seminar in China

Published/Revised: December 31, 2012

Explosives
Newsletter December 2011 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 2.01 MB]

What's In This Issue: New Acting Director of ATF; New Publications; Open Letter—Definition of Display Fireworks; ATF Ruling 2011-3, Alternate Locks Authorized for Explosives Magazines; Nonsparking Metals; Attended “Day Box” Reminders; Smokeless Powder Exemption; Binary Exploding Targets; Binary Explosives Security; Certain Pest Control Devices Exempted as “Articles Pyrotechnic”; Hobby Pyrotechnics in a Regulated Environment; Explosives Licensing and Transfers; Reporting RPs and EPs; U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Yearbook

Published/Revised: December 31, 2011

Explosives
Newsletter December 2010 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 681.84 KB]

What's In This Issue: Updated Safety & Security Publication; 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; 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; 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

Published/Revised: December 31, 2010

Explosives
Newsletter December 2009 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 1.03 MB]

What's In This Issue: Carson W. Carroll, Assistant Director, Enforcement Programs and Services, Retires; 2009 Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME) Spring Meeting; 2010 International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) Conference; Type-1 Igloo or “Army-type Structure” Explosives Magazines; Day Boxes; Table of Distances and Barricades; Recording Explosive Materials ”Used”; Inspection Violations; Black Powder Blanks; Deteriorated Explosives; U.S. Department of Defense Exemption Application to Contractors; Storage of Exempt Explosive Materials in Magazines; Notice of Errata; Orange Book Errata; Licensee/Permittee Population

Published/Revised: December 31, 2009

Explosives
Newsletter December 2005 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 333.3 KB]

What's In This Issue: Changes Within the Office of Enforcement Programs Services; Changes in the Arson and Explosives Programs Division; Explosives Industry Programs Branch (EIPB) Is Now on the Web!; You’ve Got EIPB-Mail!; ATF’s Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; Changes in ATF Regulation27 CFR 555.55; Submission of Employee Possessor Questionnaires; New Requirements for Identification Markings on Explosives Materials; Definition of “Highways” as Defined in 27 CFR 555.11 and Guidance on Different “Private Roads”; Construction and Recordkeeping: Storage Bins for Blasting Agents; Variances for Continuing Authority Concerning Preloading of Trucks for Temporary Storage of Fireworks for Shows; REMINDER: Licensees and Permittees are Required to Maintain Records

Published/Revised: December 31, 2005

Explosives
Newsletter December 2003 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 464.34 KB]

What's In This Issue: Changes in the Public Safety Branch; New Chief of the National Licensing Center; Requirements for Distraction Devices; ATF Meets With Mining Industry and ISEE; Limited Permit Procedures Detailed; Sales of Explosives Away From the Licensed Premises; Changes at the National Licensing Center; Theft of Explosives as Reported to ATF; Reporting Changes in Responsible Persons and Employee Possessors

Published/Revised: December 31, 2003

Explosives
Newsletter August 2015 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 288.39 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 - 2013-2014

Published/Revised: August 31, 2015

Explosives
Newsletter August 2000 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 328.16 KB]

What's In This Issue: The New ATF Structure; ATF Publishes Final Rule in Federal Register; Storage Requirements - Display Fireworks; Amendment to Licensing Requirements Intended to Ease Burden for On-Site Manufacturers; Construction Requirements for Type 4 Magazines Clarified; Letters to the Editor; Disposing of Deteriorated Explosives; ATF Reaches Industry Members via Internet; U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Published/Revised: August 31, 2000

Explosives
Newsletter 1983 - Volume 2, Issue 2 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 255.94 KB]

What's In This Issue: Gun Shows Revisited; News You Can Use; Armed Forces Dual Residency Clarified; Licensee Q and A’s

Published/Revised: December 31, 1983

Firearms
Newsletter 1983 - Volume 2, Issue 1 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 231.02 KB]

What's In This Issue: A Message to the FFL from Stephen Higgins - Director of ATF; Firearms License Streamlined; Licensee Q's and A's; Firearms Seminars Look Like a Hit; News You Can Use; New Organization - Office of Regulatory Enforcement; ATF Spotlights; ATF Reorganization

Published/Revised: December 31, 1983

Firearms
Newsletter 1983 - Volume 1, Issue 2 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 181.68 KB]

What's In This Issue: The Director's Column; Curios, Relics Classification Expanded; Stolen Guns Threaten Everyone; Place of Business; For Your Customer; Tracing Works; Firearms Trace Results; News You Can Use; Toll-Free Service Available

Published/Revised: December 31, 1983

Firearms
Newsletter 1983 - Volume 1, Issue 1 - Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Newsletter [PDF - 326.03 KB]

What's In This Issue: A Message from the Director of ATF; Tracing Firearms for Law Enforcement; Frequently Asked Questions

Published/Revised: December 31, 1983

Firearms
Newsletter 1991 - Volume 4 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 915.43 KB]

What's In This Issue: Computerized Recordkeeping Systems; A Message From the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME); Accidental Explosion of Detonators Reported to ATF; Quantity and Storage Restrictions; 27 CFR 55.63 - Explosives Magazine Changes; Storage of Explosives/Explosive Materials; 5-Year Record Retention; Multi State Explosives Licensing; Letters to the Editor; A Message From the National Explosives Tracing Center; Illegal Storage Led to Tragedy

Published/Revised: December 31, 1991

Explosives
Newsletter Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter Index - January 2022 [PDF - 174.18 KB]

Index for the Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) newsletters. Last updated January 2022.

Published/Revised: January 31, 2022

Explosives
Newsletter 1989 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 5.71 MB]

What's In This Issue: Open Letter; Movement of Explosive Materials Pertaining to Fireworks; Explosives Security; Binary Explosives Requirements; Black Powder Dealers' Records; Special Notice; ATF's Most Wanted

Published/Revised: December 31, 1989

Explosives
Newsletter 1990 - Volume 1 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 4.21 MB]

What's In This Issue: A Letter of Thanks; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Letters to the Editor; Lock and Key Control; Law Enforcement Corner

Published/Revised: December 31, 1990

Explosives
Newsletter 1990 - Volume 2 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 615.06 KB]

What's In This Issue: New Fireworks Regulations; Letters to the Editor; Law Enforcement Corner

Published/Revised: December 31, 1990

Explosives
Newsletter 1991 - Volume 5 - Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL) Newsletter [PDF - 10.13 MB]

What's In This Issue: Theatrical Flash Powder; DOT Eliminates Class A, B, and C Explosives; Good Storage Practices; News Release; Letters to the Editor; Law Enforcement Corner

Published/Revised: December 31, 1991

Explosives
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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