Saturday, August 28, 2010

EPA Lead Ban - Nevermind

It appears that the EPA came to its senses and decided that they had no authority to regulate lead bullets used in ammunition.
Just two days ago, the EPA announced that they would take comments until the end of October as to whether they agreed that lead-based ammunition and fishing sinkers amounted to such a dire threat to the environment that the EPA should ban both. Looks like they heard enough comments, at least on ammunition:
I know that I, and a bazillion other folks had filed comments on the proposed ban. That's grassroots work at its finest. Some of the big players weighed-in too.
Agreeing with the position of the NRA and the firearms industry, the agency explained in a news release that it “does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).” Further crushing the hopes of anti-gun and anti-hunting activists, the release added: “nor is the agency seeking such authority.”
I bolded that last line, because I find it interesting that an government agency publicly says that they're not seeking to expand their authority.

Maybe the left-wingers in the government have decided that gun control is a battle that they don't want to fight. It's become a loser for them. However, the comment period will remain open until September 15th, while the agency tries to decide if it wants to regulate lead fishing sinkers.

If the EPA thinks they stirred up a hornets nest now, wait till they try to regulate the fishermen. That's got to be another losing battle.

Hat tip to Hot Air.

2 comments:

Rivrdog said...

Great victory for common sense, PawPaw, but go read my AAR post on this. Some heads STILL ought to roll.

I don't fish too much anymore, but those times I've been in a bait and tackle shop lately, I've seen sinkers and jig-heads made of Bismuth, a lead substitute.

Old NFO said...

I 'think' this one is going to be back again, when we least expect it...