ATF CONSIDERS MARKING OF IMPORT EXPLOSIVES

ATF CONSIDERS MARKING OF IMPORT EXPLOSIVES    The U.S. Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is considering whether to require that licensed importers place markings on their explosives shipments.
   The agency is examining concerns rising from a petition filed by the Institute of Makers of Explosives earlier this year. The petition said importers should have their explosive shipments marked in line with what’s already required by U.S. manufacturers.
   The IME, a safety association for the commercial explosives industry, encourages the adoption of uniform rules in the manufacture, transportation, storage, handling, use and disposal of explosives. The association said that explosive materials should be individually marked with date, plant and shift codes.
   The IME said that between 1994 and 1997, imports of high explosives increased 14-fold to account for 17 percent of all high-explosives used annually in the United States.
   The association is concerned that an increasing portion of these imports come into the country without proper markings. It’s estimated that about 2 million unmarked tons were distributed in the United States last year.
   Under the 1970 Organized Crime Control Act, the ATF requires specific information about explosives materials, such as blasting agents, water gels and detonators, to track their movement and distribution throughout the United States. This information is important in explosion and bombing investigations. A revision to the marking rules would enrich the detail of information, the ATF said.
   The ATF seeks feedback from the import industry to determine the impact of change. Comments are due to the agency by Jan. 12. For information, contact James P. Ficaretta at (20) 927-8210.