justification 1140-0022

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES

Supporting Statement

ATF F 5400.14/5400.15, Part 111

Federal Explosives License/Permit (FEL) Renewal Application

OMB 1140-0022

A. Justification:

1. Chapter 40, Title 18 of the United States Code provides that no person may engage in the business of importing, manufacturing or dealing in explosives materials without first obtaining a license to do so. Further, no person may transport or buy explosives materials in interstate commerce without first obtaining a permit to do so. Licenses or permits are issued for a specific period of time and are renewable upon the same conditions as the original license or permit. In order to continue uninterruptedly in these activities, licenses and permits can be renewed by filing a short renewal application. As long as 18 U.S.C. 843(a) requires a person who wishes to engage in the explosives materials business or transport/buy in interstate commerce to pay a fee, to file an application and to obtain a permit before engaging in these activities, this short renewal form is a reasonable alternative to having to complete another application where there have been no substantive changes in the applicant’s history.

2. The information on this form is used by ATF application examiners to identify applicant for a renewed license or permit, the location where the activity will be conducted, the specific activity to be conducted and to determine the applicant’s continued eligibility to receive a renewed license or permit. Renewal applications are now computer generated and mailed to the applicant with enough lead time to allow for timely processing and return to the applicant of a valid license or permit. The renewal application is used by the public to retain a license or permit. The renewal application is used by ATF to determine that the applicant remains eligible to retain the license or permit.

3. The form is computer generated by the Federal Explosives Licensing Center. The respondent must mail the application with an original signature.

4. ATF uses a uniform subject classification system to identify duplication and to ensure that any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purpose of this information collection.

5. This information collection requirement has no impact on small businesses.

6. Without the information supplied by the applicant on the renewal form, ATF could possibly issue a license or permit to a person prohibited by law from receiving the license or permit.

7. Respondents complete this information only as often as necessary to comply with the statue. This information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with 5 CFR 1320.6.

8. ATF consulted with the explosives industry during the creation of this form. A 60-day and 30-day Federal Register Notice will be published in order to solicit comments from the general public.

9. No payment or gift is offered to the respondents

.

10. Respondents confidentially is protected by 26 U.S.C. 6103, 5 U.S.C. Sections 55(a)

and 552.

11. Questions of a sensitive nature are asked to ensure that explosives are not sold or received by certain persons.

11. The estimated number of respondents 2,500. The frequency of response is one. The total number of responses is 2,500. The average estimated time for filling out the information is 20 minutes per application. The total annual burden associated with this collection is 825 hours. There is no change in burden hours from the previous submission.

11. Postage (.39 x 2,500 = $975.00) is the only cost to the respondent.

11. Estimates of annual cost to the Federal Government are as follows:

Printing $ 2,300

Distribution $430

Clerical Costs $2,300

Other Salary $1,800

(review supervisory, etc.)

Total $6,830

11. There are no program changes or adjustments associated with this information collection.

11. The results of this collection will not be published.

11. ATF does not request approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information for this collection.

11. There are no exceptions to the certification statement.

B. This collection of information does not employ statistical methods.