The firearms industry had a big, very scary splash this week when someone uncovered the ATF was looking to reclassify wetted nitrocellulose. Wetted Nitrocellulose is used in the manufacture of gun powder. The ATF was looking into the fact that wetted nitrocellulose containing greater than 12.6 percent nitrogen is too high for their comfort. They issued a statement in their June 2016 ATF Explosives industry newsletter. (Who know this newsletter was a thing? I’m in the wrong business.)
(The) ATF was recently asked about the status of
nitrocellulose under the Federal explosives
laws and regulations. “Nitrocellulose explosive”
is on ATF’s List of Explosive Materials. ATF has
determined that nitrocellulose containing greater than
12.6 percent nitrogen is a high explosive under 27 CFR,
Part 555 (nitrocellulose containing 12.6 percent or less
nitrogen is generally not an explosive material under
Part 555). Therefore, it must be stored in a type 1 or type
2 magazine. We are aware that the U.S. Department of
Transportation may assign a nonexplosive classification
to nitrocellulose when it has been wetted with water or
alcohol. This is based, in part, on the diminished likelihood
of explosion in a transportation accident. Because
the nitrocellulose retains its explosive characteristics
when the water or alcohol is removed, the wetted nitrocellulose
remains a nitrocellulose explosive, subject to
the licensing, safety and security requirements of the
Federal explosives regulations. However, based upon the
diminished likelihood of wetted nitrocellulose exploding,
ATF will consider variance requests to store the wetted
material under an alternative arrangement.
So What?
So this all came to be and we all freaked out a bit. How this would have affected the ammunition industry is not exactly clear right now. Some say it wouldn’t have really affected much. Others swore the sky was falling. I was doing my own research to try and figure out the effects for another article when I got an email. I signed up to quote, “Subscribe to receive news and update from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives” through the ATF website. The ATF issued an addendum on August 31st. Saying the following,
ATF’s June 2016 Explosives Industry Newsletter included a brief discussion of Nitrocellulose,
and attempted to clarify the circumstances under which wetted Nitrocellulose is considered a
high explosive under 27 CFR, Part 555. As with all explosives, ATF’s focus is on the potential
public safety risks associated with materials that can be misused or diverted to unlawful
purposes. Subsequent contact from industry members who import, transport, store or employ
wetted Nitrocellulose in the production of ammunition, however, has brought to our attention
issues that were not fully addressed in the Newsletter and require further consultation and
consideration with the industry. Accordingly, ATF has and will conduct further industry
outreach concerning wetted Nitrocellulose. In the interim, previously authorized industry
practices concerning wetted Nitrocellulose will not be affected.
WooHoo for wetted Nitrocellulose,
So for now wetted nitrocellulose is off the hook. Ut can certainly be on the chopping block again, but for now it’s relatively safe. Was the ATF doing the gun industry a favor? I doubt it. It turns out wetted nitrocellulose is used in a lot of industries, and the blowback was likely more significant than just gun owners. However, like usual the gun owners rallied together and passed the word. This likely drew the necessary attention needed to get the ATF to back off for now. We are safe for now folks, but remain ever vigilant. Always watching, and consider signing up for the ATF’s newsletters here.
