EPA Denies Petition Calling for Lead Ammunition Ban
Threat to ban lead in fishing tackle remains active.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today denied a petition calling for a ban on the production and distribution of lead hunting ammunition. EPA sent a letter to the petitioners explaining the rejection – that letter can be found below and here: https://www.epa.gov/oppt/chemtest/pubs/sect21.html
Steve Owens, EPA assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, issued the following statement on the agency’s decision:
EPA today denied a petition submitted by several outside groups for the agency to implement a ban on the production and distribution of lead hunting ammunition. EPA reached this decision because the agency does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – nor is the agency seeking such authority.
This petition, which was submitted to EPA at the beginning of this month, is one of hundreds of petitions submitted to EPA by outside groups each year. This petition was filed under TSCA, which requires the agency to review and respond within 90 days.
EPA is taking action on many fronts to address major sources of lead in our society, such as eliminating childhood exposures to lead; however, EPA was not and is not considering taking action on whether the lead content in hunting ammunition poses an undue threat to wildlife.
As there are no similar jurisdictional issues relating to the agency’s authority over fishing sinkers, EPA – as required by law – will continue formally reviewing a second part the petition related to lead fishing sinkers.
Those wishing to comment specifically on the fishing tackle issue can do so by visiting https://www.regulations.gov. EPA will consider comments that are submitted by September 15.
It appears as if the EPA ruled in this fashion not because they wanted to or believe that the facts did not support a denial but because they did not have the authority to ban ammunition. As the threat still remains for them to ban lead in fishing there is still work to be done…AmmoLand.com
EPA Denies Petition Calling for Lead Ammunition Ban