Listening to the voices of thousands of activist anglers, on February 14, 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) once again rejected the most recent petition to federally ban lead fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
The Situation
Attempts to ban the use of lead fishing tackle have become increasingly prevalent. In November 2010, 43,000 anglers such as you helped to defeat an attempt to ban lead in fishing tackle nationwide when the EPA denied a petition to ban lead in fishing tackle. Despite the EPA's ruling, the petitioners filed a law suit against the EPA's decision and submitted a similar new petition to the agency. Thanks to you, this new petition has been defeated!
The EPA's decision demonstrates, once again, that lead fishing tackle is not harming waterfowl populations and that this is not an issue that merits a sweeping ban. Anglers are, first and foremost, some of our nation's most devoted conservationists and the EPA recognized this fact with their dismissal.
Your Help is Still Needed
Despite this monumental win for anglers nationwide, attempts to overregulate our sport have not ended. The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act (S. 838/H.R. 1558) seeks to prevent a federal ban on lead in recreational fishing tackle and helps to ensure that any future regulations on fishing tackle are established based on scientific fact instead of unjustified petitions.
With anti-fishing organizations trying to stop recreational fishing using whatever means they can, the Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act is necessary to protect traditional fishing tackle, as well as ammunition, from unjustified bans that will harm the economy and reduce participation in traditional outdoor sports.
Take Action!
To assure passage of this important legislation and prevent future attempts to overregulate sportfishing, it's critical that your Members of Congress hear from you!