WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) published a notice in the Federal Register today containing the list of 237 explosive materials that are subject to federal law and implementing regulations.
This list covers not only explosives, but also blasting agents and detonators, all of which are defined as explosive materials in the United States Code chapter regulating the importation, manufacture, distribution, receipt, and storage of explosive materials. The Department of Justice must publish and revise the explosives list annually, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 841.
The 2009 list does not contain any new terms. However, ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP) has been removed. As a result of a court decision in March 2009, APCP is no longer regulated under federal explosive laws.
The list is comprehensive, but is not all-inclusive. Therefore, an explosive material may not be on the list but may still be within the coverage of the law if it meets the statutory definitions. Some of the explosive materials on the list include: dynamite, black powder, pellet powder, safety fuses, squibs, detonating cord, display fireworks, igniter cord, and igniters.
ATF has jurisdiction for the enforcement in Title 18 U.S. Code, Chapter 40, as amended by the Safe Explosives Act in 2002. As such, ATF is the federal agency primarily responsible for administrating and enforcing the regulatory and criminal provisions of federal laws pertaining to destructive devices (e.g., bombs) and explosives.
ATF has the experience and ability to detect, prevent, protect against, and respond to explosives incidents resulting from improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Since 1978, ATF has investigated more than 25,000 bombings and attempted bombings, more than 1,000 accidental explosions, and more than 22,000 incidents involving recovered explosives or explosive devices. The majority of these bombings involved the use of IEDs. ATF is the primary source of explosives investigative and training support throughout the world.
The 2009 List of Explosive Materials can be viewed at http://www.atf.gov/regulations-rulings/rulemakings/general-notices.html. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.
