Pennsylvanians can close out 2017 with a bang.

Tucked into Act 43, part of a revenue packaged signed into law Oct. 30 by Gov. Tom Wolf, was an expansion of consumer fireworks sales to Pennsylvania residents.

The fireworks outlets clustered around the Easton interchange of Interstate 78, the last exit before New Jersey, confirmed Wednesday they have applied for the expanded-sales license.

At least for now, Phantom Fireworks, Sky King Fireworks and TNT Fireworks in Williams Township are continuing to operate under the state's 2004 fireworks law that allows Pennsylvania residents only to buy novelty fireworks -- fountains, sparklers, spinners and smoke bombs. Out-of-state customers can buy whatever they want from the Pennsylvania stores.

"Once we get our new certificate, it's just a matter of a couple of days hopefully, and the entire showroom will be open for Pennsylvania residents," Joe Mazak, assistant manager at Phantom Fireworks of Easton, said Wednesday.

Pennsylvania had 82 bricks-and-mortar fireworks retailers licensed under the old law, said Walter Remmert, director of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Bureau of Ride and Measurement Standards that is in charge of fireworks laws.

All 82 may continue to operate for 90 days, through Jan. 28, 2018, under the old law, but they must apply for a new license under the new law to be able to continue selling consumer fireworks after that.

About half have applied, Remmert said. As of Wednesday, statewide, three Odd-Lot Outlet locations had received the new licenses. All of them are a short drive from the Lehigh Valley, in the Tannersville and East Stroudsburg areas of Monroe County.

Pennsylvanians can now walk into those Odd-Lots and buy consumer fireworks previously off limits to them.

So what's a consumer firework?

The American Pyrotechnics Association standard for consumer fireworks defines them as:

Top sellers at Phantom for New Year's Eve celebrations include reloadable mortars that sell for $15 to $250 and a type of mine and shell device known as a cake. Those go for $60 to $250 and create a repeating aerial display with a single fuse, Mazak said.

Beyond novelty and consumer fireworks is a class known as display-grade fireworks, which remain prohibited for the general public, said Remmert, with the state Department of Agriculture. Also illegal under federal law are explosive devices known as an M-80, M-100, blockbuster, cherry bomb or quarter- and half-stick.

In addition to expanding sales in stores, under the new law, temporary tents will be able to be licensed to sell consumer fireworks instead of just novelties, Remmert noted.

He cautioned that use of fireworks may still be subject to local laws.

Pennsylvania's move to expand consumer fireworks laws sets a new tax of 12 percent, in addition to the sales and use tax already imposed. The state projects additional revenues in 2017-18 from the expanded sales to total $2.6 million, and to grow to $9.3 million in 2018-19, according to the fiscal analysis of the measure.

The license application fee is $2,500 for a long-term facility and $1,000 for a temporary tent, on top of annual license fees ranging from $3,000 to a tent to as much as $20,000 for the biggest stores.

The law budgets 2 percent of consumer fireworks taxes, up to $2 million a year, for emergency medical service grants and volunteer firefighter training.

Remmer said he couldn't pinpoint when the expanded-sales licenses would be granted, as each application requires an inspection of the store. Asked whether the 40 applications on hand can be procdessed in time for New Year's, he said: "I'm hoping."

Meanwhile, Pennsylvanians at the Easton area stores will continue to find their choices limited. But not for long.

"We are looking forward to serving the residents of Pennsylvania," Brock Strickland, director of retail for TNT Fireworks, said Wednesday.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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