By Galia Berry

Lead contamination is one of those nasty little facts of life that shooters would like to ignore, or pretend that it doesn't exist. It doesn't help that the anti-gun and environmental lobbies use "lead contamination" as an excuse to shut down shooting ranges, when their real agenda is not environmental concerns, but rather getting rid of guns altogether. Usually the standards imposed by these groups are so strict, and their "solutions" for clean-up so financially prohibitive, that it spells doom and ruin for the ranges. This is perhaps what leads to the knee-jerk reaction of range owners and clubs in their denial of contamination on the range and their refusal to investigate, test, and do anything about it if there is indeed a problem.

While I in no way wish to compare the average range with Aberdeen Proving Ground in size or scope vis a vis lead contamination, there is something unsettling nevertheless when one visits the military museum there and sees the warning notices posted above the drinking fountains, noting that due to the high rate of lead contamination found in the ground and water table, that drinking from the water fountain is not advisable.

The question is, if indeed there is a problem at the range, what action can we take to correct it, lest it prove hazardous to ourselves and our neighbors, much less the environment at large? Until now, there has not been any simple and rational way to approach this problem.

When I attended the American Firearms Institute convention in Atlantic City this past April, I was impressed with the work of a company called Environmental & Turf Services, Inc. out of Wheaton, MD. The company has worked on projects from Massachusetts to Hawaii, and performed a frequently cited and pioneering assessment of lead contamination and management for the Pikesville Sportsmen's Club in 1991. One of the guide's authors, Dr. Stuart Cohen, is an instructor for the NRA's Range Development Course. The guide has been endorsed by a gunsmith and NRA instructors, and a former NRA Field Representative.

Basically what the guide does is sort through the myriad rules, regulations, and laws of various government agencies regarding EPA and OSHA compliance requirements, putting an end to the mishmash and haphazard confusion that exists due to all the bureaucracy and emotion surrounding the issue of lead contamination. By having a range take proactive moves towards range cleanup, it decreases the likelihood of harassment and less cost-effective recommendations for cleanup by those agencies. Dr. Cohen told me that by using his recommendations, ranges were able to save tens of thousands of dollars towards lessening contamination, yet were still within the range of acceptable limits according to government guidelines.

But that's only when, after testing, cleanup is required. Much of the lead contamination scare is just hoopla, as Dr. Cohen's scientific explanations demonstrate. Most important, lead contamination is site-specific. In other words, lead shot lying on the ground may affect the environment more at one range than another, based on the water table, climatic conditions, type of soil, presence of acid rain, etc. So lead contamination might be minimal even if there is a whole lot of shooting, and similarly, the solutions towards cleanup are varied and site-specific.

Not only are practical and detailed solutions given to reduce the lead content found in the soil - - a large portion of the manual is dedicated to managing potential hazardous waste associated with indoor ranges, as well. In addition to expended bullets and cartridge cases; used patches, brushes and solvent that are part of firearms cleaning and maitenance; potential hazardous waste can occur in the disposition of filters and compliance with the Clean Air Act relative to a variety of ventilation systems found at indoor shooting ranges.

The guide lists an incredible number of resources, websites, hotlines, glossary, lead compliance standards for OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), environmental pitfalls as outlined by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), etc. and puts all pertinent information at your fingertips. It also discusses how best to avoid that big, bad wolf known as CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, & Liability Act), the Superfund Law.

Even if gun range owners decide not to change the way their shooting range is managed, reading the guide will at the very least ensure that that decision is an informed one, rather than a reaction to enemies of gun ownership. It is also recommended for those who might be engaged in a debate with people who take issue with range-related pollution, so they can discuss lead contamination rationally and knowledgeably.

The guide is available for $325 and includes one hour of free consulting. Contact Environmental Turf Services, Inc. at 11141 Georgia Ave., Ste. 208, Wheaton, MD 20902, (301) 933-4700 (etscohen@aol.com) for more information.

Copyright © 1997 - Galia Berry, All Rights Reserved, Reprinted with permission