SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

We encourage written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed information collection. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:

—Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is necessary to properly perform ATF's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility;

—Evaluate the agency's estimate of the proposed information collection's burden for accuracy, including validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

—Evaluate whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the information being collected can be enhanced, and if so, how; and

—Minimize the information collection's burden on those who are to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting people to submit electronic responses.

Overview of This Information Collection

Abstract: Federal explosives licensees/permittees (FEL/Ps) play a significant role in preserving public safety, including preventing crimes involving explosives, such as domestic or foreign terrorist acts. ATF's regulation at 27 CFR 555.121 provides that FEL/Ps must keep records pertaining to explosive materials in permanent form ( e.g., commercial invoices, record books) and in the manner required in 27 CFR part 555, subpart G. These records are required under 18 U.S.C. 842 (f),(g),(j), (k), 843(f), and 847, and are established in the manner set forth in 27 CFR 555.121, 555.122, 555.123, 555.124, 555.125, and 555.127. As part of their record-keeping requirements, FEL/Ps must take a physical inventory at least once during each year. FEL/Ps must also take special physical inventories when they are: (1) commencing business, (2) changing premises, (3) discontinuing business, or, (4) requested to do so by the ATF Director, Industry Operations. If one of these special inventories occurs, the FEL/P is not required to take an additional inventory that same year. The inventory aids FEL/Ps in accounting for all their explosives material and reconciling cost, sales, and use records with inventory. It also establishes initial figures from which an audit trail can be developed by ATF field officers during a compliance inspection or criminal investigation. Specifically, ATF uses inventory figures to reconcile the physical inventory on hand and the book inventory the FEL/P maintains. These reconciliations are conducted on an ongoing basis, to determine whether any unlawful diversions of explosive materials have occurred, especially those arising through theft by persons not affiliated with the FEL/P.

Type of information collection: revising a previously approved collection.

Title of the form/collection: Explosives Licensee/Permittee Inventories.

Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department sponsoring the collection: Form number: no form. Component: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as the obligation to respond: Affected public: business, other for-profit. Obligation to respond: mandatory per 18 U.S.C. 842 (f),(g),(j), (k), 843(f), and 847.

Estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: There are an estimated 9,130 respondents associated with this collection per year, and it will take each respondent an average of approximately two hours per response to complete their responses.

Estimate of the total annual burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The estimated annual public burden associated with this collection is 18,260 hours, which is equal to 9,130 (total respondents) * 1 (# of responses per respondent) * 2 hours.

Estimate of the total annual other cost burden associated with the collection, if applicable:0; there are no costs.

( printed page 67859)

Revisions to This Information Collection

As part of this ICR renewal, ATF is making no revisions to this information collection, OMB 1140-0028. However, ATF has revised the title of the ICR from “Inventories: Licensed Explosives Importers, Manufacturers, Dealers, and Permittees” to “Explosives Licensee/Permittee Inventories” for plain writing purposes and to make it shorter. In addition, the number of annual respondents has decreased since the last renewal—from 9,219 in 2023 to 9,130 in 2026—a drop of 89 respondents. This resulted in a corresponding decrease in the total annual burden hours, from 18,438 to 18,260, a difference of 178 hours.

91 FR 67858