Email from Congressman Jim Matheson

September 28, 2010

Dear Mr. Fackrell,

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding a petition currently pending before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban lead ammunition and fishing sinkers. I appreciate your interest in the issues facing our country and state, and I am glad for the opportunity to respond to your inquiry. By contacting me on issues important to you, I am better able to represent Utah in Congress.

On August 3, 2010, a petition was filed by several environmental groups requesting the EPA revise the rules governing toxic substances to ban the manufacture, processing and distribution of lead shot, bullets, and fishing sinkers. As you may know, EPA has the authority to protect against unreasonable risk of injury to health or environment from chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). On August 27, the EPA determined that it did not have authority to regulate lead shot and bullets due to the exemption provided for these substances in TSCA, and subsequently denied that portion of the petition. However, EPA is still reviewing the request on lead fishing sinkers and must make a determination by November 3.

As a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights and sportsmen’s rights, I agree with the EPA’s decision to deny the petition regarding lead shot and bullets and hope they will make the same determination for lead fishing sinkers. The EPA is currently accepting public comments on the fishing sinker issue, and I strongly encourage you to weigh in during this process.

Again, thank you for sharing your concerns with me. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact my office.

Sincerely,



JIM MATHESON
Member of Congress

http://www.HuntersAgainstPETA.com