ATF – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Open Letters & Important Interpretation Letters

Receive Open Letters Updates

2012

September 24

• Open Letter — Open Letter to All Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees

September 19

• Open Letter — Open Letter to All Federal Firearms Licensees and Federal Explosives Licensees/Permittees

April 26

• Open Letter — Open Letter to all Federal Law Enforcement Agencies and Military Components – Unmarked Plastic Explosives

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2011

November 7

• Open Letter — Open Letter to All Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – Clarify the Definition of "display fireworks" in the Federal Explosives Regulations

August 19

• Open Letter — To all Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – September 11, 2011, marks the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. This is a significant event and much attention will be directed to this date throughout the world.

July 1

• Open Letter — To all State and Local Government Entities – This letter provides information regarding the distribution to and receipt of explosives for pest control and mitigation purposes by States or their political subdivisions.

April 19

• Open Letter — To all Explosives Industry Members – Industry members should take precautions to maximize the security of their operations

April 4

• Open Letter — To all Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Explosives Licensees and Permittees – Provides guidance regarding the Tribal Law and Order Act of 2010 which created an exemption for federally recognizing Indian tribes or tribal agencies from provisions of the Federal explosives laws with respect to display fireworks.

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2010

November 12

• Open Letter — Information Regarding Explosives Pest Control Devices

March 23

• Interpretation Letter — Ski Lifts as Inhabited Buildings

February 25

• Memorandum — Locking Requirements for Portable Type-5 Magazines

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2009

July 17

• Open Letter — To All Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – Provide Federal explosives licensees and permittees with information about the recent district court decision regarding ammonium per chlorate composite propellant (APCP).

February 24

• Open Letter — To All Explosive Industry Members – ATF would like to remind all Federal explosives licensees and permittees of the importance of security at their explosives storage sites, and we advise all industry members to take heightened security precautions in light of these thefts.

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2008

August 29

• Open Letter — To all Federal Explosives Licensees and Federal Explosives Permittees – The purpose of this open letter is to a) help you protect your business premises and inventory in the event of a natural disaster; and b) provide guidance on what to do if your business premises is damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster.

May 28

• Open Letter — To all Fireworks Licensees and Permittees – ATF, together with our Federal, State, and local law enforcement or regulatory partners, is committed to preventing these tragedies and to punishing those who are responsible. Fireworks industry members play an important role in this effort. We applaud your contribution to firework safety.

May 19

• Interpretation Letter — Interpretation Letter – Fireworks recording keeping and Marks of Identification

March 12

• Interpretation Letter — Interpretation letter – Clarification as to whether the 62.5 grams of total propellant weight stated in 27 CFR 555.141(a)(10) refers only to the weight of the primary propellant grain or if it also includes the weight of propellant in the delay grain.

January 25

• Open Letter — To Persons Submitting Payments to ATF – ATF will be switching to electronic funds processing (ECP) for all payments received by the agency.

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2007

June 15

• Interpretation Letter — Interpretation Letter – The intent of ATF’s regulations, under 27 CFR, Part 555, and MSHA’s regulations, under 30 CFR, Part 57, is the safe and secure storage of explosives. Underground Storage of Explosives.

March 22

• Interpretation Letter — Interpretation Letter – ATF and personnel from the Department of Transportation met with officials on December 11, 2006, to discuss issues involving pyrotechnic materials manufactured by individuals and then transported to the conference

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2005

September 16

• Open Letter — To Federal Explosives Licensees (FEL) and Permittees (FEP) in Hurricane Katrina Damaged Areas – In anticipation of numerous questions relating to Federal explosives licensees and permittees affected by Hurricane Katrina, ATF has devised procedures for FELs/FEPs.

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2004

July 7

• Open Letter — To all Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – Information provided may be useful to Federal explosives licensees or permittees in identifying security precautions which may be taken to prevent terrorists from having access to explosives
• Open Letter — Special Notice to All Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees from the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

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2003

June 27

• Open Letter — To all Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – Continuing vigilance in light of heightened security concerns regarding possible terrorist activity involving explosives.

May 16

• Open Letter — To all Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – Remind licensees about the provisions of the Safe Explosives Act (the Act).

May 8

• Interpretation Letter — Interpretational letter – Safe Explosives Act of 2002 and how it may affect pyrotechnic clubs.

February 12

• Open Letter — To all Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – ATF announces that it is issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking affecting federal explosives regulations.

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2002

November 29

• Open Letter — To all Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – The purpose of this letter is to provide information on the provisions of the Safe Explosives Act (the Act), which was enacted on November 25, 2002
• Open Letter — To all Blasting/Mining Educators – Provides information on Public and Private Institute and the provision pertaining to the Safe Explosives Act.

May 21

• Open Letter — To all Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – Requesting vigilance as the summer holiday season begins; in particular, the Memorial Day and July Fourth holiday periods.

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2001

November 20

• Open Letter — To all Federal Firearms Licensees and Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – Notify that ATF has not received mail since October 25, 2001.

September 17

• Open Letter — To all Federal Explosives Licensees and Permittees – The purpose of this letter is to advise all persons holding Federal explosives licenses or permits of heightened security precautions that should be taken in light of the events of September 11, 2001.