2023-28253. Commerce in Explosives; 2023 Annual List of Explosive Materials

AGENCY:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Department of Justice.

ACTION:

Notice of list of explosive materials.

SUMMARY:

This notice publishes the 2023 List of Explosive Materials, as required by law. The 2023 list is the same as the 2022 list published by ATF, except the 2023 list adds “pyrotechnic stars.” These materials are “pyrotechnic compositions” and have long been covered under that term. ATF is adding “pyrotechnic stars” for clarity.

DATES:

The list becomes effective December 22, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marianna Mitchem, Chief; Firearms and Explosives Industry Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; United States Department of Justice; 99 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20226; (202) 648–7120.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 841(d) and 27 CFR 555.23, the Department of Justice must publish and revise at least annually in the Federal Register a list of explosives determined to be within the coverage of 18 U.S.C. 841 et seq. The list covers not only explosives, but also blasting agents and detonators, all of which are defined as “explosive materials” in 18 U.S.C. 841(c).

Each material listed, as well as all mixtures containing any of these materials, constitute “explosive materials” under 18 U.S.C. 841(c). Materials constituting blasting agents are marked by an asterisk. Explosive materials are listed alphabetically, and, where applicable, followed by their common names, chemical names, and/or synonyms in brackets. This list supersedes the List of Explosive Materials published in the Federal Register on December 20, 2022 (Docket No. 2022N–11, 87 FR 77888).

The Department is adding “pyrotechnic stars” to the 2023 List of Explosive Materials. Pyrotechnic stars are pellets, cubes, balls, or similar configurations of explosive materials that are typically used in aerial fireworks to create color effects. Pyrotechnic stars have long been on the List under the current term “pyrotechnic compositions.” To eliminate any confusion as to whether the term “pyrotechnic compositions” covers pyrotechnic stars, and to clarify that pyrotechnic stars are covered under the Federal explosives regulations at 27 CFR part 555, ATF is adding the term “pyrotechnic stars” to the List.

The 2023 List of Explosive Materials is a comprehensive list but is not all-inclusive. The definition of “explosive materials” includes “[e]xplosives, blasting agents, water gels and detonators. Explosive materials, include, but are not limited to, all items in the `List of Explosive Materials' provided for in § 555.23.” 27 CFR 555.11. Accordingly, the fact that an explosive material is not on the annual list does not mean that it is not within coverage of the law if it otherwise meets the statutory definition of “explosives” in 18 U.S.C. 841(d) and (j). Subject to limited exceptions in 18 U.S.C. 845 and 27 CFR 555.141, only Federal explosives licensees and permittees may possess and use explosive materials, including those on the Annual List.

Notice of the 2023 Annual List of Explosive Materials

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 841(d) and 27 CFR 555.23, I hereby designate the following as “explosive materials” covered under 18 U.S.C. 841(c):

A

Acetylides of heavy metals.

Aluminum containing polymeric propellant.

Aluminum ophorite explosive.

Amatex.

Amatol.

Ammonal.

Ammonium nitrate explosive mixtures (cap sensitive).

*Ammonium nitrate explosive mixtures (non-cap sensitive).

Ammonium perchlorate having particle size less than 15 microns.

Ammonium perchlorate explosive mixtures (excluding ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (APCP)).

Ammonium picrate [picrate of ammonia, Explosive D].

Ammonium salt lattice with isomorphously substituted inorganic salts.

*ANFO [ammonium nitrate-fuel oil].

Aromatic nitro-compound explosive mixtures.

Azide explosives.

B

Baranol.

Baratol.

BEAF [1, 2-bis (2, 2-difluoro-2-nitroacetoxyethane)].

Black powder.

Black powder based explosive mixtures.

Black powder substitutes.

*Blasting agents, nitro-carbo-nitrates, including non-cap sensitive slurry and water gel explosives.

Blasting caps.

Blasting gelatin.

Blasting powder.

BTNEC [bis (trinitroethyl) carbonate].

BTNEN [bis (trinitroethyl) nitramine].

BTTN [1,2,4 butanetriol trinitrate].

Bulk salutes.

Butyl tetryl.

C

Calcium nitrate explosive mixture.

Cellulose hexanitrate explosive mixture.

Chlorate explosive mixtures.

Composition A and variations.

Composition B and variations.

Composition C and variations.

Copper acetylide.

Cyanuric triazide.

Cyclonite [RDX].

Cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine [HMX].

Cyclotol.

Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine [RDX].

D

DATB [diaminotrinitrobenzene].

DDNP [diazodinitrophenol].

DEGDN [diethyleneglycol dinitrate].

Detonating cord.

Detonators.

Dimethylol dimethyl methane dinitrate composition.

Dinitroethyleneurea.

Dinitroglycerine [glycerol dinitrate].

Dinitrophenol.

Dinitrophenolates.

Dinitrophenyl hydrazine.

Dinitroresorcinol.

Dinitrotoluene-sodium nitrate explosive mixtures.

DIPAM [dipicramide; diaminohexanitrobiphenyl].

Dipicryl sulfide [hexanitrodiphenyl sulfide].

Dipicryl sulfone.

Dipicrylamine.

Display fireworks.

DNPA [2,2-dinitropropyl acrylate].

DNPD [dinitropentano nitrile].

Dynamite.

E

EDDN [ethylene diamine dinitrate].

EDNA [ethylenedinitramine].

Ednatol.

EDNP [ethyl 4,4-dinitropentanoate].

EGDN [ethylene glycol dinitrate].

Erythritol tetranitrate explosives.

Esters of nitro-substituted alcohols.

Ethyl-tetryl.

Explosive conitrates.

Explosive gelatins.

Explosive liquids.

Explosive mixtures containing oxygen-releasing inorganic salts and hydrocarbons.

Explosive mixtures containing oxygen-releasing inorganic salts and nitro bodies.

Explosive mixtures containing oxygen-releasing inorganic salts and water insoluble fuels.

Explosive mixtures containing oxygen-releasing inorganic salts and water soluble fuels.

Explosive mixtures containing sensitized nitromethane.

Explosive mixtures containing tetranitromethane (nitroform).

Explosive nitro compounds of aromatic hydrocarbons.

Explosive organic nitrate mixtures.

Explosive powders.

F

Flash powder.

Fulminate of mercury.

Fulminate of silver.

Fulminating gold.

Fulminating mercury.

Fulminating platinum.

Fulminating silver.

G

Gelatinized nitrocellulose.

Gem-dinitro aliphatic explosive mixtures.

Guanyl nitrosamino guanyl tetrazene.

Guanyl nitrosamino guanylidene hydrazine.

Guncotton.

H

Heavy metal azides.

Hexanite.

Hexanitrodiphenylamine.

Hexanitrostilbene.

Hexogen [RDX].

Hexogene or octogene and a nitrated N-methylaniline.

Hexolites.

HMTD [hexamethylenetriperoxidediamine].

HMX [cyclo-1,3,5,7-tetramethylene 2,4,6,8-tetranitramine; Octogen].

Hydrazinium nitrate/hydrazine/aluminum explosive system.

Hydrazoic acid.

I

Igniter cord.

Igniters.

Initiating tube systems.

K

KDNBF [potassium dinitrobenzo-furoxane].

L

Lead azide.

Lead mannite.

Lead mononitroresorcinate.

Lead picrate.

Lead salts, explosive.

Lead styphnate [styphnate of lead, lead trinitroresorcinate].

Liquid nitrated polyol and trimethylolethane.

Liquid oxygen explosives.

M

Magnesium ophorite explosives.

Mannitol hexanitrate.

MDNP [methyl 4,4-dinitropentanoate].

MEAN [monoethanolamine nitrate].

Mercuric fulminate.

Mercury oxalate.

Mercury tartrate.

Metriol trinitrate.

Minol-2 [40% TNT, 40% ammonium nitrate, 20% aluminum].

MMAN [monomethylamine nitrate]; methylamine nitrate.

Mononitrotoluene-nitroglycerin mixture.

Monopropellants.

N

NIBTN [nitroisobutametriol trinitrate].

Nitrate explosive mixtures.

Nitrate sensitized with gelled nitroparaffin.

Nitrated carbohydrate explosive.

Nitrated glucoside explosive.

Nitrated polyhydric alcohol explosives.

Nitric acid and a nitro aromatic compound explosive.

Nitric acid and carboxylic fuel explosive.

Nitric acid explosive mixtures.

Nitro aromatic explosive mixtures.

Nitro compounds of furane explosive mixtures.

Nitrocellulose explosive.

Nitroderivative of urea explosive mixture.

Nitrogelatin explosive.

Nitrogen trichloride.

Nitrogen tri-iodide.

Nitroglycerine [NG, RNG, nitro, glyceryl trinitrate, trinitroglycerine].

Nitroglycide.

Nitroglycol [ethylene glycol dinitrate, EGDN].

Nitroguanidine explosives.

Nitronium perchlorate propellant mixtures.

Nitroparaffins Explosive Grade and ammonium nitrate mixtures.

Nitrostarch.

Nitro-substituted carboxylic acids.

Nitrotriazolone [3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one].

Nitrourea.

O

Octogen [HMX].

Octol [75 percent HMX, 25 percent TNT].

Organic amine nitrates.

Organic nitramines.

P

PBX [plastic bonded explosives].

Pellet powder.

Penthrinite composition.

Pentolite.

Perchlorate explosive mixtures.

Peroxide based explosive mixtures.

PETN [nitropentaerythrite, pentaerythrite tetranitrate, pentaerythritol tetranitrate].

Picramic acid and its salts.

Picramide.

Picrate explosives.

Picrate of potassium explosive mixtures.

Picratol.

Picric acid (manufactured as an explosive).

Picryl chloride.

Picryl fluoride.

PLX [95% nitromethane, 5% ethylenediamine].

Polynitro aliphatic compounds.

Polyolpolynitrate-nitrocellulose explosive gels.

Potassium chlorate and lead sulfocyanate explosive.

Potassium nitrate explosive mixtures.

Potassium nitroaminotetrazole.

Pyrotechnic compositions.

Pyrotechnic fuses.

Pyrotechnic stars.

PYX [2,6-bis(picrylamino)] 3,5-dinitropyridine.

R

RDX [cyclonite, hexogen, T4, cyclo-1,3,5,-trimethylene-2,4,6,-trinitramine; hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-S-triazine].

S

Safety fuse.

Salts of organic amino sulfonic acid explosive mixture.

Salutes (bulk).

Silver acetylide.

Silver azide.

Silver fulminate.

Silver oxalate explosive mixtures.

Silver styphnate.

Silver tartrate explosive mixtures.

Silver tetrazene.

Slurried explosive mixtures of water, inorganic oxidizing salt, gelling agent, fuel, and sensitizer (cap sensitive).

Smokeless powder.

Sodatol.

Sodium amatol.

Sodium azide explosive mixture.

Sodium dinitro-ortho-cresolate.

Sodium nitrate explosive mixtures.

Sodium nitrate-potassium nitrate explosive mixture.

Sodium picramate.

Squibs.

Styphnic acid explosives.

T

Tacot [tetranitro-2,3,5,6-dibenzo-1,3a,4,6a tetrazapentalene].

TATB [triaminotrinitrobenzene].

TATP [triacetonetriperoxide].

TEGDN [triethylene glycol dinitrate].

Tetranitrocarbazole.

Tetrazene [tetracene, tetrazine, 1(5-tetrazolyl)-4-guanyl tetrazene hydrate].

Tetrazole explosives.

Tetryl [2,4,6 tetranitro-N-methylaniline].

Tetrytol.

Thickened inorganic oxidizer salt slurried explosive mixture.

TMETN [trimethylolethane trinitrate].

TNEF [trinitroethyl formal].

TNEOC [trinitroethylorthocarbonate].

TNEOF [trinitroethylorthoformate].

TNT [trinitrotoluene, trotyl, trilite, triton].

Torpex.

Tridite.

Trimethylol ethyl methane trinitrate composition.

Trimethylolthane trinitrate-nitrocellulose.

Trimonite.

Trinitroanisole.

Trinitrobenzene.

Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid [picryl sulfonic acid].

Trinitrobenzoic acid.

Trinitrocresol.

Trinitrofluorenone.

Trinitro-meta-cresol.

Trinitronaphthalene.

Trinitrophenetol.

Trinitrophloroglucinol.

Trinitroresorcinol.

Tritonal.

U

Urea nitrate.

W

Water-bearing explosives having salts of oxidizing acids and nitrogen bases, sulfates, or sulfamates (cap sensitive).

Water-in-oil emulsion explosive compositions.

X

Xanthomonas hydrophilic colloid explosive mixture.

Date approved: December 18, 2023.

Steven M. Dettelbach,

Director.