Posted on 03/24/2009 6:04:49 PM PDT by kittycatonline.com
National Park Service News Release
For Immediate Release: March 10, 2009 Contact(s): David Barna, 202-208-6843
Bert Frost, 202-208-3884
National Park Service Gets the Lead Out!
WASHINGTON – National Park Service visitors and wildlife have something to cheer about today with the agency’s stepped-up efforts to reduce lead in national park environments.
“Our goal is to eliminate the use of lead ammunition and lead fishing tackle in parks by the end of 2010,” said Acting National Park Service Director Dan Wenk. “We want to take a leadership role in removing lead from the environment.”
The new lead reduction efforts also include changes in NPS activities, such as culling operations or the dispatching of wounded or sick animals. Rangers and resource managers will use non-lead ammunition to prevent environmental contamination as well as lead poisoning of scavenger species who may eventually feed upon the carcass. Non-toxic substitutes for lead made in the United States are now widely available including tungsten, copper, and steel.
The NPS will also develop educational materials to increase awareness about the consequences of lead exposure and the benefits of using lead-free ammunition and fishing tackle.
Lead is an environmental contaminant affecting many areas of the world, including our national parks. Lead is banned in gasoline, children’s toys, and paint because of its effects on human health. In the United States, there is an accelerating trend to expand efforts to reduce lead contamination associated with firearms and hunting. California and Arizona have recently implemented mandatory and voluntary bans, respectively, on lead ammunition to facilitate California condor recovery. And Yellowstone National Park has had restrictions on lead fishing tackle for years to protect native species and their habitats.
Resource managers recognize that hunting and fishing play an important historical role in the complicated and intensive management of wildlife populations. Because of this history, these activities continue in some parks and, in some cases, even enhance the park’s primary purpose to preserve natural environments and native species. The new restrictions on lead will ensure environmentally safe practices are implemented to protect park visitors and lands.
Wenk adds, “The reduction and eventual removal of lead on park service lands will benefit humans, wildlife, and ecosystems inside and outside park boundaries and continue our legacy of resource stewardship.”
My father-in-law has a good sized chunk of the stuff. I’ll sell you a piece...;^)
Somebody should tell them lead came from the environment.
Hear hear. Lead. It's right there on the Periodic Table of Elements. Can't get more natural than that.
Yeah, Pete. If they really do want to take a leadership role in removing lead from the environment, they’ll have to start digging, and pack the horrid stuff into rockets so they can banish it to the outer edges of the solar system.
The following uses for lead are gathered from a number of sources as well as from anecdotal comments.
manufacture of PbEt4 - an antiknock compound in petrol.
the metal is very effective as a sound absorber
a radiation shield around X-ray equipment and nuclear reactors
the oxide is used in producing fine “crystal glass” and “flint glass” with a high refractive index for achromatic lenses
solder
used to contain corrosive liquids
alloying
cable covering
ammunition
shield against X-rays
oxide used to produce crystal glass
insecticides
also effective, when used as an undergarment, to keep Superman from seeing your neeners...
The universe is not RoHS.
If things keep going the way they are, we will need the lead for another purpose.
heh. heheh. heheheh. We should stock up.
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