EPA denies environmental groups’ petition to ban lead in hunting ammunition

EPA denies bid to ban lead in hunting ammunition

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has denied a petition by five environmental groups to ban lead in hunting ammunition.

The agency said Friday that it did not have the authority to enact the ban under the Toxic Substances Control Act, as the groups had requested.

But the EPA says it’s still reviewing another part of the petition, to ban lead fishing sinkers.

The agency informed one of the groups, American Bird Conservancy, of the decision in a letter.

The groups had argued in their petition that millions of animals are dying from eating lead-shot pellets or carcasses contaminated by lead. They say an estimated 10 million to 20 million birds and other animals die each year from lead poisoning in the U.S.