Groups urges EPA to ban lead ammunition, fishing tackle

Groups seek ban on lead ammunition, fishing tackle

WASHINGTON — Five environmental groups want the EPA to ban lead in ammunition and fishing tackle, arguing that millions of animals are dying from eating lead-shot pellets or carcasses contaminated by lead.

The American Bird Conservancy and the other groups filed a 100-page petition with the Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday seeking the ban under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

The petition includes hundreds of scientific studies which the groups say demonstrate the harm lead does to wildlife.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade group, called the petition an “anti-hunting attack on traditional ammunition.” It said there is no evidence lead ammunition is having an adverse impact on wildlife populations.