Concerning Lead Ban

[denjac]

September 9, 2010

Mr. Dennis Boothe

Joplin, MO 64804-4059

Dear Dennis:

Thank again you for contacting me regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) possible ban on lead ammunition and fishing tackles. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns.

On August 27, 2010, the EPA rejected a petition sent by several environmental advocacy groups seeking to ban lead in ammunition and fishing tackle. The coalition of conservation grouts sent this petition claiming that the use of lead in ammo and fishing tackle is poisoning the nation's lakes, ponds and forests and asking the EPA to ban the "manufacture, processing and distribution" of lead shot bullets and fishing. The EPA's decision to reject the petition is due to their lack of jurisdiction on the matter.

On April 21, 2010, I introduced H. Res. 1282. This resolution would protect recreational fishing and boating in the development of President Obama's policy designed to preserve the environment. This legislation would also promote recreational fishing and protect access to public water for fishing and boating. Currently, this measure is under consideration in the House Committees on Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure.

As you know, anglers play a huge role in the nation's conservation efforts and our nation's economy. The 60 million anglers in the United States generate $45 billion in retail sales and add $125 billion to the economy. There are also an estimated one million jobs created due to our country's anglers.

Southwest Missouri is home to some of the best and most beautiful conservation areas in the country and I certainly understand the importance of keeping these areas accessible to the anglers that make this possible. Again, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to hearing from you in the future.

Sincere regards,

Roy Blunt

Member of Congress

[Al Agnew]

I apparently missed the other thread before it was apparently shut down and removed, so if I'm giving info that had already been given, forgive me...

The "environmental organizations" the Blunt alluded to were actually the Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy, and the Association of Avian Veterinarians, along with a so-called hunters' group called Project Gutpile. I would classify only the Center for Biological Diversity as an environmental organization, the other two are animal (or in this case bird) advocacy organizations. It pains me that such groups are lumped in with environmental organizations, because I think there is a big difference between the two. Who knows much about Project Gutpile...I didn't bother to check out their website.

EPA was required by law to consider the petitions, but I'd be willing to bet that they wanted no part of this issue. I'd also be willing to bet the administration wanted no part of it right before the mid-term elections. I'd say the chance of this thing passing, and especially passing "cold turkey" without a lengthy phase-in period, was pretty much nil.

As for the question of whether it's a real concern or not, and whether we anglers could live with it if it passed, I have my doubts that lead fishing tackle is a big problem on most waters, but there are definitely places where it could be a real issue. Years ago, the Corps of Engineers shut off the flow out of Clearwater Dam and pumped all the water out of the spillway area in order to do some work on the base of the spillway. I was there when that hole got dry, and you'd be absolutely amazed at the mass of lead sinkers and jigheads that lined the rocky bottom of that area. You could walk out on the rocks and pick up lead by the bucket-full. I'd think that might possibly be a problem. I'd also think anglers could support and could live with a ban on lead in more areas where the fishing pressure is extremely heavy, and if phased in over a long period, could easily adapt to a total ban on lead...except for those who like to pour their own leadheads and sinkers!

[jjtroutbum]

I apparently missed the other thread before it was apparently shut down and removed, so if I'm giving info that had already been given, forgive me...

Lead thread

[Randall]

I'd be more worried about the shooting industry than the hunting or fishing industries. The increased cost of lead alternatives would be tolerable in comparison with the extra costs sport shooters would face even considering the already nightmarish cost of ammunition. I'm a little surprised groups like the Brady Center aren't involving themselves in or at least championing issues like this... or maybe they indirectly are by virtue of individuals being members of both gun-control and animal rights groups and raising issues under one banner that will further the goals of both.

[Al Agnew]

Thanks, jj, I don't fish lakes much so I usually skip over the lakes forums. I just assumed from the post about the history of controversial threads that I'd missed some lead thread that had been deleted.

I slogged through that train wreck, and contributed my own long-winded thoughts on it, probably wasting a lot more time than I should have!

[Wayne SW/MO]

Al the thread in question is under Pomme De Terre lake. It's still alive and well.

[Quillback]

I could live with a lead ban if it was phased in over a reasonable period of time, or a ban on small sinkers, or banning lead in certain lakes or streams where there is clear evidence of a need for the ban. But I could not support this petition to the EPA to absolutely ban lead. The organizations that are asking for the lead ban could probably get support from anglers if they took the time to understand our concerns, but when they blindside you with something like this and try and force it on you it rubs people wrong. Environmental organizations, which in general are well meaning, seem to have a "We know better than you" attitude and because of that they can come off as seeming to work behind the scenes to ditate to us how we will live our lives. We're Americans, we don't like it when orgnizations come out of nowhere and try and dictate how you will live your life, and if you don't like it, tough because it's now the law and we'll throw your butt in jail if you don't conform to the new laws.

This issue is also being dicussed on some of the other fishing forums I frequent. Lots of opinions out there on this isssue.

[ozark trout fisher]

This is something which I have changed my mind on a little. A thread came up here on a possible lead ban in national parks a year or two ago, and I'll have to admit that I was opposed to that at the time... I still think a comprehensive ban on lead in ammo and fishing tackle is probably over the top, but I could deal with it without much complaint if it was phased out slowly enough for the fishing industry to adapt. There would certainly be some benefits to it. On a nationwide, comprehensive basis, it's just not something that I care to fight for or against. It's kind of a small problem compared to some of the other things going on (like gas fracking, offshore drilling, and other ridiculously harmful practices that are going on in our country right now.)

I do think lead bans are a really good idea in specific areas where there is a large concentration of ducks, geese, or other waterfowl that might get a hold of stray sinkers or shot.

[troutfiend1985]

I could live with a lead ban. However I am an angler and not a hunter, so I don't know how effective bullets are/would be if they could not use lead.

Getting back to my point, I don't see the harm of banning lead. I know that lead can't be good for the environment and I currently don't use small lead sinkers. Yes, it costs more to buy lead alternatives, but I would think that after a while the alternatives would become less expensive than they currently are because of supply and demand.

Yellowstone has a total lead ban, except for a few lakes where only very large weights are allowed to target lake trout.

About the "eco" groups: I get sick of them as well. But on this issue, I don't see how banning lead would hurt, at least small sinkers for fishing. Just my .02

Tight lines

[awhuber]

EPA denies petition to ban lead in fishing tackle

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jffpBX8JnhF1sV-AeZvR7xLUk7IQ?docId=c5f530e9207e4d47a36debbd3332e5d3