The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ and Federal
Bureau of Investigation’s Arson and Explosives Intelligence Databases

Audit Report 05-01
October 2004
Office of the Inspector General

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Background Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)     ATF Databases     ATF System Under Development Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)     FBI Database     FBI System Under Development FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS DUPLICATE SYSTEMS ARE MAINTAINED BY THE ATF AND FBI FOR REPORTING ARSON AND EXPLOSIVES INCIDENTS Duplication in Reporting Legislative History Resulting in Duplication ATF FBI Comparison of ATF and FBI Database Systems Accessibility Data Collection User Interface Data Fields Types of Outputs Data Sharing Capabilities Accuracy Timeliness of Data Entry and Responsiveness to Customers ATF, FBI, and Departmental Efforts to Define Responsibility for Data Collection and Management Conclusion Recommendations STATEMENT ON COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS STATEMENT ON MANAGEMENT CONTROLS APPENDICES: AUDIT OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE AND RESULTS AGENCIES INTERVIEWED BY TELEPHONE OUTLINE OF THE FEATURES OF THE NATIONAL REPOSITORY AND BDC DATABASES SUMMARY OF THE DATA FIELDS FOR THE DATABASES OF THE ATF NATIONAL REPOSITORY AND FBI BOMB DATA CENTER ATTORNEY GENERAL’S AUGUST 11, 2004, MEMORANDUM REGARDING THE COORDINATION OF EXPLOSIVES INVESTIGATIONS AND RELATED MATTERS BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES’ RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT AUDIT REPORT FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS’ RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT AUDIT REPORT OFFICE OF THE INPECTOR GENERAL, AUDIT DIVISION ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY OF ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CLOSE THE REPORT