ATF: Thefts of Explosives from State and Local Government Storage Facilities Are Few but May Be Underreported
Highlights
More than 5.5 billion pounds of explosives are used each year in the United States by private sector companies and government entities. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has authority to regulate explosives and to license privately owned explosives storage facilities. After the July 2004 theft of several hundred pounds of explosives from a state and local government storage facility, concerns arose about vulnerability to theft. GAO analyzed (1) the extent of explosives thefts from state and local government facilities, (2) ATF's authority to regulate and oversee state and local government explosives storage facilities, (3) the information ATF collects about state and local government storage facilities, and (4) security oversight measures in place at selected state and local government storage facilities.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Justice | To allow ATF to better monitor and respond to incidents of missing or stolen explosives, the Attorney General should direct the ATF Director to clarify the explosives incident reporting regulations to ensure that all persons and entities who store explosives, including state and local government agencies, understand their obligation to report all thefts or missing explosives to ATF within 24 hours of an occurrence. |
Closed – Implemented
ATF took the following actions to ensure that all persons and entities understand their obligation to safeguard explosives and report all thefts to ATF within 24 hours. First, in conjunction with the National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board and the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators, ATF sent a letter to each State and Local bomb squad commander urging them to assess the state of their explosive security, inventory, and records, to ensure they are in compliance with Federal regulations. Second, ATF issued letters of guidance in October 2005 to the Attorneys General of each State, the International Chiefs of Police, the National Association of State fire marshals, and the National Sheriff's Association providing guidance on the requirements for timely reporting of lost or stolen explosive materials. Finally, ATF drafted voluntary magazine (storage container) questionnaires for government agencies/entities who store explosive materials to be placed on the ATF web site to allow ATF to collect and store any information voluntarily submitted by all relevant agencies, educational institutions, and other government entities.
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