Best Management Practices for Lead at Outdoor Shooting Ranges
What is the EPA Best Management Practices (BMP) for Lead at Outdoor Shooting Ranges manual?
The Best Management Practices for Lead at Outdoor Shooting Ranges (PDF) (103 pp, 2.4MB, About PDF) manual provides owners and operators of outdoor rifle, pistol, trap, skeet and sporting clay ranges with information on lead management at their ranges. The manual explains how environmental laws are applicable to lead management and presents a number of successful best management practices available to the shooting range community. These practices have been proven to effectively reduce lead contamination. Since each range is unique in both the type of shooting activity and its environmental setting, site-specific solutions are not provided in the manual. Rather, range owners or operators may use the manual to identify and select the most appropriate best management practices for their range. The manual does not address range layout or design to meet range safety or competition requirements. It is also not intended for closing ranges. Range owners/operators are directed to other comprehensive reference materials available on that subject from the National Rifle Association of America, National Shooting Sports Foundation and other shooting associations.
What is a Best Management Practice and How Does It Apply to Shooting Ranges?
A Best Management Practice, or BMP, is a recommended site management and/or maintenance activity, usually based on an approach that has been shown to work effectively for the purpose intended. A best management practice is based on use of readily available equipment and/or technology.
For example, best management practices for outdoor shooting ranges are practices that range owners/operators can use to minimize the impact of lead on the environment. Lead at outdoor shooting ranges may pose, in certain situations, a threat to the environment if best management practices, including reclamation and recycling, are not implemented in a timely manner.
Benefits of Best Management Practice Implementation
Implementation of best management practices will allow the range to minimize contamination of the range and potential impacts to human health and the environment, reduce liability with regard to potential agency or citizen lawsuits, benefit economically from the recycling of lead, and enhance its role as a good member of the community and steward of the environment.