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This page
is being rewritten as of April 4, 2008 and will be re-issued shortly.
I have left some of the sections here since they will not change
significantly. This change is because as I complete my own LEUP, I
am getting a better understanding of the current laws. |
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| Both high power
rocketry and experimental rocketry are legitimate hobbies. The
government has no interest in people who are pursuing legitimate
hobbies but they must always be on the lookout for possible
terrorists whether foreign or deranged citizens. Help them do
their job of protecting us by cooperating. Yes it can be some
trouble but compared to the effort, time, and expense most of us put
into high power and experimental rocketry, it is small and it is
worth it. Please do not give our hobbies a bad name and bad
reputation by doing anything illegal. |
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The LEUP (Low Explosives User Permit)
You apply for the LEUP through the controlling organization, the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. You may also see the
abbreviation BATF or BATFE.
Note that an importer, dealer or manufacturer requires
a license. A user requires a permit.
The controlling document is the ATF regulations 27cfr555 which are at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/27cfr555_03.html.
This is a list of individual sections with text or pdf files for each
section. Actually, 27cfr555 is one large document and the individual
files listed are specific pages. You will find some overlap between
adjacent files because individual articles of the regulation are not started
on new pages. To find the area of interest, just scroll down, reading
the titles or to the section you want and open that file. Some areas
of interest are found in the following sections:
555.41 General -- talks about the requirement for
permits, who needs them, etc.
555.43 Permit fees -- this is the cost of a LEUP
555.62 State or other law -- The LEUP is your
federal permit, you still have to deal with any additional state or local
regulations if any. California requires a pyro license.
Washington State requires a license for the magazine. In my town in
Washington, the only additional, requirements where I live in Washington is that the words "EXPLOSIVES -- KEEP FIRE AWAY" must be in 3"
high letters on the magazine and it must be on "substantial" wheels or
castors.
555.101 Posting of license or user permit -- a copy must
be posted on the premises (somewhere). The original licenses or
permits should be kept in a safe place and be readily available for
inspection.
555.125-127 Keeping records (inventory). Received and used.
Not difficult.
555.210 Construction of type 4 magazines.
Note that the forms you fill out and ask for from the ATF are not for a LEUP
but just for an "Explosives Permit" and on it you mark which kind of permit
you are applying for.
Here are some links to explain the LEUP, how to get it, and how to fill out
the application paperwork.:
http://www.tulsarocketry.org/LEUPTutorial.htm
(http://www.tulsarocketry.org/LEUPVariance.htm
covers the variance request for attached garage)
http://tripoli.org/tmt/LEUP_filing.shtml
http://www.marsclub.org/new1/LEUP_Info/leup_info.html
http://www.info-central.org/regulation_environment.shtml
(a general rundown on the regulations, no details about the LEUP)
A downloadable and printable set of forms is available from the ATF website
on their forms pages here:
http://www.atf.gov/forms/pdfs/f540013.pdf. Call the number below
rather than use these forms because you need the proper fingerprint form
that comes in the kit. This link is good for taking a look at the
forms and a trial filling of the forms if you want to do that.
To get started, I was advised by my state ATF agent to not use the online
forms but to call 703-455-7801 (not state specific) and ask for an
"explosives permit kit" which they sent right out. One good reason for
this is that they send you their specific finger print card they want your
finger prints on. They won't take the one from the police station and
you can't use a photocopy or printout from one online. Just take them to your local police station and they will
be glad to do it for you -- takes just a couple minutes.
You must have an approved explosives magazine (a wood-lined metal box) and a
detached lockable garage to store the motors in. You can get a
variance (not a waiver) for an attached garage but that is an additional
process with additional requirements. The storage requirements are at
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=27cfr555+atf .
Pyro License (Pyrotechnic Operator-Rocketry Class III
License)
This is also required if you live in or are going to fly in California.
Here is some help and info for this:
http://lunar.mtrad.com/wiki/Pyro3
http://far.pyroinnovations.com
This is not meant to scare you or deter you from pursuing the hobby but to
encourage you to obey the law and go through the necessary permit
procedures. Note, people who have a LEUP, as far as I know, have not
been targeted by the government.
Staten Island Man Is Charged in Home Storage of Chemicals:
Link #1 or
Link #2
Teenager 'had bomb-making chemicals under his bed':
Click here
Bob Lazar raided by CPSC and
charged with "violating the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and shipping
restricted chemicals across state lines":
Click here
Firefox legal battle:
Click here
Potassium nitrate "sugar" propellant latest target of ATF scrutiny (Scott
Fintel)
Click here
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