It worked how I described in the late 1990s. I know someone who went through the new process and it didn't seem that onerous. As I recall it isn't that different from the process for getting Global Entry on your passport.

Explosives are still heavily used in mining and construction. Many of those operations are just a couple individuals, not any kind of real company.

> I know someone who went through the new process and it didn't seem that onerous

My understanding is that it's nigh on impossible as an individual now but I may be wrong.

>Many of those operations are just a couple individuals, not any kind of real company.

In my limited experience the guys who do the explosives have typically made a business out of it and get subcontracted to many mines and jobsites to blow this or that up.