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

Statement on Compliance with Laws and Regulations


We audited the collection of information involving arson and criminal misuse of explosives by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm, and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). The audit period covered January 2001 - July 2004, and included a review of selected activities and documents.

In connection with the audit and as required by the standards, we reviewed: 1) procedures used to collect and disseminate arson and explosives data, 2) access to databases, and 3) whether duplication of effort exists between databases.

Our audit included examining, on a test basis, evidence about policies and procedures, laws, regulations, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars. The specific laws and regulations for which we conducted tests are contained in the relevant portions of:

  • Public Law 104-208 (110 Stat. 3009), the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997
  • Title 18 U.S.C. 846(b)
  • OMB Circular A-123

Except for instances of non-compliance identified in the Findings and Recommendations section of this report, the ATF and the FBI were in compliance with the laws and regulations referred to above. With respect to the laws and regulations not tested, nothing came to our attention that caused us to believe that the ATF and FBI were not in compliance with the referenced laws and regulations cited above.