The Explosives Industry
The explosives industry in the United States is composed of approximately 11,000 ATF explosives licensees and permittees working in commercial explosives, fireworks, and specialty products. While the mining industry uses 85-90% of all the explosives used in the U.S. on an annual basis, explosives are used in virtually every segment of the manufacturing and major construction industries. Explosives industry members play an integral role in maintaining and improving our quality of life in the United States and work to bring countless benefits to our everyday lives in areas such as mining, oil and gas exploration; demolition; avalanche control; and the use of explosives in special industrial tools; medical instruments; fire extinguishers; railroad torpedoes; air bag inflators; fireworks; and special effects in the entertainment industry.
However, with all of the benefits that explosives bring to our lives, explosives also have been used by those who seek to disrupt or destroy the peace, progress and works of society. Because of the potential misuse of explosive materials, ATF’s role in protecting the public from inadequate storage and security is vital to our nation's efforts against terrorism and violence involving explosives.
ATF Anniversary
ATF and industry share common goals of ensuring public safety and protecting America against potential criminal or terrorist activities. Since its creation as a separate Bureau within the Department of the Treasury on July 1, 1972, ATF has worked with the explosives industry and its associations to ensure the safety and security of the public. This year, ATF celebrates its 40th anniversary as a Bureau dedicated to protecting commerce in the explosives industry; the public from the inherent danger of inadequately stored or secured explosive materials; and society against those individuals who might misuse these materials in a manner contrary to public safety. Please join us in commemorating these 40 years of service by clicking on the following link to view our presentation.
Explosives Industry Programs Branch
The Explosives Industry Programs Branch (EIPB) participates in industry seminars and conferences and meets with industry members to discuss ways to increase explosives security. These outreach activities make ATF more effective at keeping explosive materials out of the hands of criminals.
EIPB is the primary point of contact for other Governmental agencies for explosives regulatory issues. It is responsible for the classification of explosive materials and the interpretation of the regulations codified under 27 CFR, Part 555. EIPB also issues rulings, determinations, open letters, and variances relating to explosives, the annual List of Explosives, the Explosives Newsletter, and special notices as needed.
Please see the additional links on this page for information pertinent to explosives industry members.
Commonly Requested Forms
- ATF F 5400.5 — Report of Theft or Loss – Explosive Materials
- ATF F 5400.13 — Application for License or Permit under 18 U.S.C. Chapter 40, Explosives
- ATF F 5400.28 — Employee Possessor Questionnaire
Meetings with Explosives Industry
- In August, 2012, ATF's Explosives Industry Programs Branch presented at the Pyrotechnics Guild International convention in La Porte, Indiana
- In April, 2012, ATF presented a seminar for local Federal explosives licensees and permittees, and law enforcement officers in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- In April, 2012, ATF's Explosives Industry Programs Branch presented at the ISEE Best in the West Convention in Spearfish, South Dakota
- In February, 2012, ATF Industry Operations Investigators presented on Explosives Regulations and Explosive Pest Control Devices
- On January 18 – 19, 2012, ATF's Explosives Industry Programs Branch presented at the Mine Safety and Health Administration's 2012 Blasters Seminar
FEID Customer Service Standards
How To’s
- Become a Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL)
- Renew my Federal Explosives License (FEL)
- Discontinue being a Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL)
- Report Explosives Theft or Loss
- Apply for Relief of Explosives Disability
- Request a variance, exemption, or determination
- Learn about explosive safety and security
- Learn about explosive storage requirements
- Learn about explosive pest control devices
- Learn about fireworks safety and security
Programs
Publications
I want to…
- Become a Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL)
- Renew my Federal Explosives License (FEL)
- Discontinue Being a Federal Explosives Licensee (FEL)
- Report Explosives Theft or Loss
- Apply for Relief of Explosives Disability
- Request a variance, exemption, or determination
- Learn about explosive safety and security
- Learn about explosive storage requirements
- Learn about explosive pest control devices
- Learn about fireworks safety and security
- Download to the Explosives Industry Newsletter
- Learn safety around suspicious or dangerous items
- Plastic-Explosives Reminder
- Learn about requirements for binary explosives
- Learn about Disaster Preparedness
Division Organization Chart
Explosives Industry News
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: National Response Team Customer Satisfaction Survey 07/27/12
- ATF Issues Ruling – 2012-5 – Type 4 Magazine Construction 07/27/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: List of Responsible Persons 07/27/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Notification of Change of Mailing or Premise Address 07/27/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Voluntary Magazine Questionnaire for Agencies/Entities Who Store Explosives 07/27/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Environmental Information 07/12/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: National Response Team Customer Satisfaction Survey 06/25/12
- Explosives Industry Newsletter – June 2012
- ATF Issues Ruling – 2012-2 Storage of Display Fireworks in Picking Bins 06/05/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Notification to Fire Safety Authority of Storage of Explosives Materials 06/01/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: List of Responsible Person 05/24/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Notification of Change of Mailing or Premise Address 05/24/12
- Open Letter — Open Letter to all Federal Law Enforcement Agencies and Military Components – Unmarked Plastic Explosives 04/26/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested Action: 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Transactions Among Licensee/Permittees and Transactions Among Licensees and Holders of User Permits 04/25/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested Action: 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Report of Theft or Loss of Explosives 04/25/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested Action: 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Identification of Imported Explosives Materials 04/18/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Notification to Fire Safety Authority of Storage of Explosive Materials 03/27/12
- ATF F 5400.23 – Compliance Guidelines For Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Application for Explosives License or Permit
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Firearms and Explosives Services Division Customer Service Survey 03/16/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested – Action: 30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Records and Supporting Data: Daily Summaries, Records of Production, Storage, and Disposition, and Supporting Data by Licensed Explosives Manufacturers 03/05/12
- Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Transactions Among Licensee/Permittees and Transactions Among Licensees and Holders of User Permits 02/15/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Report of Theft or Loss of Explosives02/06/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Identification of Imported Explosives Materials
- Unified Agenda (Fall 2011)
- ATF P 5400.22 — Recordkeeping Requirements for Dealers of Explosive Materials – January 2012
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Application for Explosives License or Permit — 01/11/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Firearms and Explosives Services Division Customer Service Survey — 01/11/12
- Agency Information Collection Activities: Action: 60-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Records and Supporting Data: Daily Summaries, Records of Production, Storage, and Disposition, and Supporting Data by Licensed Explosives Manufacturers — 12/30/11
- Notice of List of Explosive Materials
- Explosives Industry News Archive