Publications

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This presentation defines an Employee Possessor and provides the procedures for reporting Employee Possessors to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the clearance process, and at what point an employee may possess explosives.

Published/Revised: September 30, 2020

This presentation provides an overview of the Federal Explosives Licensing Center’s (FELC) responsibilities for reviewing and processing all new applications for federal explosives licenses and/or permits as well as renewals, the background check process, and ensuring sufficiency of information received.

Published/Revised: September 30, 2020

This presentation provides an overview of Type 3 magazine construction, reporting requirements and use intended for temporary attended storage on a worksite. 

Published/Revised: September 30, 2020

This presentation provides a history of the implementation of the Safe Explosives Act, the intention of the legislation and the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to regulate the storage of explosives, above ground or underground. Through a Memorandum of Understanding with ATF, the Mine Safety and Health Administration will inspect underground explosives storage sites for compliance with 27 CFR part 555, subpart K, Storage and will cite for any violations.

Published/Revised: September 30, 2020

This presentation details when a variance to deviate from the explosive's 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.

Published/Revised: June 15, 2022

This presentation on fireworks provides an overview of the classification of explosive materials and exemptions under Part 555. The presentation also addresses storage, identifying appropriate Tables of Distances and determining if a variance to deviate from the regulations might be needed.

Published/Revised: September 30, 2020

This presentation details the process for requesting a variance for deviating from the explosives regulations through use of a quantitative risk assessment software tool known as "Institute of Makers of Explosives Safety Analysis for Risk." The software tool is designed, in part, to evaluate the risks of a fatality from an accident involving stored explosives.

Published/Revised: September 30, 2020

Training aid to go with the final rule overview for federal firearms licensees and small businesses. 

Published/Revised: May 24, 2022

Instructions have been outlined to assist you with your eForms registration.

Published/Revised: September 28, 2023

The Office of Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS) has provided a downloadable version of the presentation of sessions held on July 14, 2023.  

Published/Revised: July 5, 2023

The Office of Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS) has provided a downloadable version of the presentation of sessions held on July 14, 2023.  

Published/Revised: July 5, 2023

The Office of Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS) has provided a downloadable version of the presentation of sessions held on July 14, 2023.  

Published/Revised: July 5, 2023

The Office of Enforcement Programs and Services (EPS) has provided a downloadable version of the presentation of sessions held on July 12, 2023. 

Published/Revised: July 5, 2023

A regulation implementing federal firearms laws, 27 CFR § 478.11, defines curio or relic (C&R) firearms as those which are of special interest to collectors by reason of some quality other than is associated with firearms intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons.

Published/Revised: May 11, 2015

A regulation implementing federal firearms laws, 27 CFR § 478.11, defines curio or relic (C&R) firearms as those which are of special interest to collectors by reason of some quality other than is associated with firearms intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons. This document includes a complete list of firearms curios or relics classifications from the previous editions of the Firearms Curios or Relics (C&R) List, ATF P 5300.11, combined with those made by FATD through April 2018.

Published/Revised: June 11, 2018

A regulation implementing federal firearms laws, 27 CFR § 478.11, defines curio or relic (C&R) firearms as those which are of special interest to collectors by reason of some quality other than is associated with firearms intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons. This document includes a complete list of firearms curios or relics classifications from the previous editions of the Firearms Curios or Relics (C&R) List, ATF P 5300.11, combined with those made by FATD through April 2025.

Published/Revised: July 17, 2025

Topics Covered: Definition of Firearm, Frame and Receiver, Privately Made Firearms (PMFs), Marking requirements, Recordkeeping requirements, Record retention, ATF Rulings/Procedure affected.  These are the broad topics, but they are all interrelated.  

Published/Revised: May 9, 2022