Senate bill introduced to protect traditional ammo and tackle

A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would protect traditional ammunition and fishing tackle from being banned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The bill, S. 3850, introduced on September 28, by Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D- AR) comes after a petition was filed under the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 (TSCA) seeking to ban both traditional ammunition and fishing tackle. That petition was filed by several groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity and the American Bird Conservancy.

In a letter to petitioners, the EPA announced it did not have the legal authority to ban traditional ammunition, however, said it would review the portion of the petition regarding traditional fishing tackle. Senate Bill 3850 will exempt traditional fishing tackle from being regulated under the TSCA and includes language strengthening existing protections for traditional ammunition.

Hunting and fishing license sales and excise taxes on gear make up the majority of wildlife conservation funding. Any reduction in those activities will negatively impact future conservation efforts.

Currently, alternatives to traditional ammunition and fishing tackle are expensive. If traditional ammunition and tackle are banned, sportsmen will likely purchase less equipment.

Sportsmen should contact their U.S. Senators immediately and ask that they join Sen. Lincoln in sponsoring this legislation and seek its passage. Correspondence should say such a ban is not scientifically warranted and will result in much less funding for conservation.

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Pennsylvania Game Commission eexecutive director Carl Roe will appear on Pennsylvania Cable Network's "PCN Call-In" program, Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.Viewers of the hour-long program can call in questions about hunting, trapping and wildlife management to PCN toll-free at 1-877- 726-5001.

For more information, visit PCN's website at www.pcntv.com.

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Care of domestic and wild animals will be discussed Peggy Sue Hentz of Red Creek Wildlife Center as today's guest of Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association member Doyle Dietz on "Experience The Outdoors," from 7:30-8 a.m. on Oldies 1410-AM; Sunday, from 9:30-10 a.m., on WMGH, 105.5-FM; and on the Web at www.wmgh.com by clicking the "Experience The Outdoors" link.