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Back in November the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was yet again
petitioned by anti-fishing groups, requesting that the agency regulate
the manufacture and sale of lead fishing tackle of certain sizes and
uses under the Toxic Substances Control Act. If approved, such
regulation could result in a de facto ban of lead sinkers, jigs and
other popular types of fishing equipment.
This comes on the heels of a similar petition that the EPA dismissed in
November 2010. The original petition also sought to ban lead hunting and
shooting ammunition, which is exempted from regulation under TSCA. In
dismissing the original petition, the EPA indicated that the
“petitioners have not demonstrated that the requested rule is necessary
to protect against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the
environment, as required by the TSCA.”
“The sportfishing community is once again asking the EPA to rule on the
side of scientific fish and wildlife population management and dismiss
this unwarranted petition,” said American Sportfishing Association (ASA)
Vice President Gordon Robertson. “Such regulations will have a
significant, negative impact on recreational anglers and the
sportfishing industry, yet the petitioners lack credible science to back
such a far-reaching request. They claim lead is threatening loons across
the nation, but several studies, including one by the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, have shown that loon populations are either stable or
increasing throughout most of their range.”
"Despite the EPA's clear ruling, the petitioners continue to attempt to
push the ban," said Robertson. "This further demonstrates the need for a
legislative solution to this growing threat to recreational fishing. In
response, the co-chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus have
introduced the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports
Protection Act, which would prevent an overreaching ban of lead fishing
tackle.
With anti-fishing organizations trying to over-regulate fishing using
whatever means they can, legislation is needed to protect traditional
fishing tackle and ammunition from unjustified bans that will harm the
economy and reduce participation in outdoor activities."
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