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...more