EPA rejects effort to ban lead in bullets

The U.S. EPA on Friday rejected a petition from several environmental groups to bar use of lead in ammunition, a decision that comes amid GOP claims that a ban would be an “assault on rural America.”

The American Bird Conservancy, the Center for Biological Diversity and other groups in early August sought the ban on lead shot, bullets and fishing gear under the Toxic Substances Control Act, citing harmful effects on wildlife and people.

“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,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, in a statement.

“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,” he added.

But he said the agency would continue reviewing the portion of the petition seeking to ban lead fishing sinkers.

The idea that EPA would mull a ban on the lead ammo had begun drawing criticism from Republicans and the National Rifle Association.

“This potential ban on lead bullets is another massive power grab by the EPA and the latest example of the Obama administration’s assault on Rural America. Mandating non-lead bullets will greatly increase costs for hunters, sport shooters and fishermen and deal a devastating blow to the outdoor sportsmen and recreation industry during these difficult economic time,” said Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), the top Republican on the House Natural Resources Committee, in a statement earlier Friday.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) had also criticized the petition, calling Friday for Montana residents to weigh in against it with EPA, stating, “It’s critical for all of us to sound off on any plan that targets our gun rights.”

Environmental groups, however, say there are commercially available alternatives to lead in hunting ammo and fishing gear.

“Many species of wildlife ingest spent lead shot pellets or lead fishing weights, while others ingest lead fragments from the carcasses and gut piles of shot animals on which they feed. More than 130 species of wildlife are affected by lead from these sources in this way, and in some species thousands or tens of thousands of individuals die from lead ingestion every year in North America,” states their early August petition to EPA, citing effects on bald eagles and other species.