NC Camo Alert:  Petition to EPA to Regulate Lead Fishing Sinkers and Ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act

The Center for Biological Diversity recently petitioned the EPA to regulate the use of lead fishing sinkers and lead ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act.  EPA wisely denied the petition to regulate ammunition citing lack of legal authority under the Act.  Regulation of ammunition is reserved to the US Fish and Wildlife Service as it may affect fish and wildlife species and its habitat.  USFWS has acted with the steel shot requirement to address concentration of lead shot in areas where waterfowl may be exposed. 

The bad news is that EPA did not deny the lead fishing sinkers portion of the petition.  So this petition is out for public comment through September 15, 2010.  By all means, we need to let EPA know that hunters and anglers are opposed to this regulation because these issues are already being effectively addressed by appropriate and knowledgeable staff in the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Go to the US Government Regulations site at the following link:

http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#submitComment?R=0900006480b3974b

Under “organization” put “private citizen” and then give your name in the next box.  You can view all the supporting information at this site if you wish.  But the important thing is to submit your opposition to this petition before the deadline of September 15, 2010.  NC Camo has prepared a statement you may submit by copying and pasting it in the proper response box; or, you may wish to compose your own.  A time out limit of 20 minutes is imposed on the comment, so if your time runs out you will be prompted to renew for another 20 minutes.

Model comment:

“I live in North Carolina and am a responsible hunter / angler who respects and obeys the law and supports rules to protect fish and wildlife and its habitat.

I am writing to the EPA to object to the petition asking the agency to regulate lead ammunition and lead fishing sinkers under the Toxic Substances Control Act.  My experiences as a hunter / angler do not give any indication that such regulation is necessary to protect fish and wildlife or its habitat.  Concentration of lead shot in areas used extensively by waterfowl has already been addressed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which is the agency with jurisdiction and expertise in these issues.

I ask the EPS to deny the petition to regulate ammunition and lead fishing sinkers under the Toxic Substances Control Act.”