United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

WS Directive ass crn

EXPLOSIVES USE AND SAFETY
PURPOSE

To provide procedures and accountability for WS use of explosives for managing beaver
damage and training requirements for explosives certification, but is not intended to
provide guidelines and requirements for other explosive materials, such as pyrotechnics
and rocket net charges.

REPLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS
This directive revises WS Directive 2.435 dated 01/06/06.
BACKGROUND

Explosives are an efficient, cost-effective tool for removing beaver dams causing damage
to property or other resources.

A WS Explosives Safety Committee composed of qualified WS personnel appointed by
the WS Deputy Administrator is responsible for developing explosives safety and security
procedures for WS, conducting explosives training, and certifying WS explosives
specialists. All training requirements and operating procedures must be approved by the
WS Deputy Administrator before implementation.

Guidelines and requirements for other explosive materials such as pyrotechnics, rocket
net charges, and other incidental explosive materials are detailed in other WS Directives.

POLICY

Only explosive materials and components for their use listed in the WS Explosives Safety
Manual are authorized for use by WS in managing beaver damage.

WS explosives specialists are not authorized to use, handle, or dispose of explosives
belonging to other parties or to obtain explosives from outside sources for WS program
use other than licensed distributors or manufacturers.

State Directors are responsible for ensuring that explosives magazine inspection, record
keeping, and inventory requirements are met in accordance with WS Explosives Manual
guidelines. These requirements include biannual magazine site safety inspections


(APHIS Form 256-5, Safety Inspection Checklist;

http://www. aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/downloads/forms/aphis/aphis256-5.pdf) and physical
inventories of all explosives on hand recorded on WS Form 22. These physical inventory
records will be reviewed and signed by the State Director or his/her designee to certify
accuracy.

All WS use, storage, and transportation of explosives covered by this directive will be in
compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, procedures
outlined in the WS Explosives Safety Manual, and requirements set forth in the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard for explosives found in the Code
of Federal Regulations, Title 29, part 1910.109, Explosives and Blasting Agents.

State Directors are the authorizing officials for designating nominees for explosives
training and for approving the purchase, handling, and use of explosives by explosives
specialists on projects approved by the State Director.

WS explosives specialists will contact local emergency response (fire department / fire
Marshall) about location of explosives storage.

WS employees will receive explosives training and be certified according to WS policy
before using binary explosives or explosive materials listed as approved explosive
components in the WS Explosives Safety Manual. There may be additional state specific
requirements for training, licenses or permits. These additional regulations must be met
before an explosive specialist is authorized to use explosives.

The WS explosives certification process will require:

a, State Directors to nominate qualified candidates under their supervision for explosives
training.

b. A minimum of 24 hours instruction in explosives safety, WS explosives handling
procedures, security, and legal compliance.

c. Candidates to demonstrate safe and proficient use of explosive components and use
procedures approved for WS field operations.

d. Successful completion of all WS explosives certification requirements.

Only after satisfying all WS training requirements and upon recommendation of the WS
Explosives Safety Committee will candidates be eligible for certification. The
Committee will recommend to the certifying official, the Explosives Safety Committee
Chair, the candidates eligible for certification and those certifications that should be
denied or revoked.

A minimum of 8 hours of approved explosives refresher training are required every two


years to maintain WS certification. Certified employees who do not meet this
requirement within 2 years of their last training will forfeit their certification. Renewal of
certification after forfeiture will require successful completion of another 24-hour WS
basic explosives training course.

Only certified Explosives Specialists who have successfully completed WS Advanced
Explosives Safety Training will use delay detonator systems.

Accidents, Thefts or Loss:

Additionally, any suspicious or unusual activity, theft/loss or attempted theft of explosive
materials, and break-ins or attempted break-ins to buildings where explosive materials are
stored will be reported in a timely manner to State and local law enforcement authorities,
the State Director, and the WS Explosives Safety Committee through the Committee
Chair. All accidents must be reported to the State Director as well as the Explosives
Safety Committee Chair

5. REFERENCES

APHIS Safety and Health Manual (Revised 6/30/04).

WS Explosives Safety Manual.

29 CFR Part 1910.109 - Explosives and Blasting Agents.

27 CFR Part 555 - Commerce in Explosives, Subpart G - Records and Reports.

27 CFR Part 555 - Commerce in Explosives, Subpart K Storage.

27 CFR Part 555. - Commerce in Explosives, Subpart I Unlawful Acts, Penalties,
Seizures and Forfeitures.

49 CFR Parts 106, 107, 110, 171 through 180, and 397 — Department of Transportation.

Acting Deputy Administr: