REGULATION OF LEAD AMMUNITION UNDER TSCA?

In early August, 2010, the Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy, and three other organizations petitioned the EPA to regulate lead ammunition under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA; see our TSCA web page on this site at http://www.environmentalandturf.com/TSCA/). They cited literature indicating that more than 130 species of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles have been adversely affected by orally ingested lead ammunition.

The EPA denied the petition on August 27 (http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/48d939b5009411038525778c00768006!OpenDocument). The EPA stated that it has addressed lead in the environment in many ways, and that it does not have the authority - - nor is it seeking the authority - - to regulate lead ammunition.

Subsequently, the original petitioners filed a lawsuit challenging the EPA's decision. On November 23, the National Shooting Sports Foundation announced its intention to file a motion to intervene (http://www.nssf.org/Newsroom/releases/2010/112310.cfm). The NSSF stated, among other things, that there is no scientific evidence that lead ammunition has adversely impacted wildlife populations.

Stay tuned to our website. We will keep you informed of this critical issue.