BMP for Lead <strong>at</strong> Outdoor <strong>Shooting</strong> RangesTable 1-1: Applic<strong>at</strong>ion of Key Terms to New York Athletic Club<strong>Chapter</strong> I - Page I-10
BMP for Lead <strong>at</strong> Outdoor <strong>Shooting</strong> Rangeswhose oper<strong>at</strong>ing areas are situ<strong>at</strong>ed wholly overl<strong>and</strong>, compliance with <strong>the</strong> CWA can be achievedby obtaining a NPDES permit for piped orchanneled runoff from <strong>the</strong> range into w<strong>at</strong>er 1 .<strong>Shooting</strong> ranges impacting wetl<strong>and</strong> areas maybe subject to o<strong>the</strong>r regul<strong>at</strong>ions found in Section404 of <strong>the</strong> CWA. This section is <strong>the</strong> principalfederal regul<strong>at</strong>ory program protecting <strong>the</strong>N<strong>at</strong>ion’s remaining wetl<strong>and</strong> resources. Anyplans for range owners/oper<strong>at</strong>ors to dredge <strong>and</strong>/or fill wetl<strong>and</strong>s will come under close scrutiny by<strong>the</strong> federal, st<strong>at</strong>e <strong>and</strong> local governments <strong>and</strong>citizen groups. Range owners/oper<strong>at</strong>ors mustcomply with <strong>the</strong> CWA when range design,redesign, construction, reclam<strong>at</strong>ion orremedi<strong>at</strong>ion occurs in wetl<strong>and</strong> areas.1.2.3 Comprehensive <strong>Environmental</strong>Response, Compens<strong>at</strong>ion, <strong>and</strong>Liability Act (CERCLA)The Comprehensive <strong>Environmental</strong> Response,Compens<strong>at</strong>ion, <strong>and</strong> Liability Act (CERCLA),imposes liability on past <strong>and</strong> present owners oroper<strong>at</strong>ors of properties where a release of ahazardous substance into <strong>the</strong> environmentexists. CERCLA is typically used when a party,ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> government or priv<strong>at</strong>e party, hascleaned up someone else’s contamin<strong>at</strong>ion, <strong>and</strong>seeks reimbursement from past owners/oper<strong>at</strong>ors or disposers (potentially responsibleparties or PRPs). Under CERCLA, lead isconsidered a hazardous substance.EPA has <strong>the</strong> authority to order a PRP to clean upa site or conduct <strong>the</strong> cleanup <strong>and</strong> recover itscosts from <strong>the</strong> PRP under CERCLA.Responsible parties may be held liable for allcleanup costs, which can be substantial. UnderCERCLA, shooting ranges may be liable forgovernment costs incurred during <strong>the</strong> cleanupof ranges, n<strong>at</strong>ural resources damages, <strong>and</strong>health assessments <strong>and</strong>/or health effectsstudies. The following two examples illustr<strong>at</strong>ehow shooting ranges (including one oper<strong>at</strong>ed by<strong>the</strong> federal government) can be affected byCERCLA.1The term “l<strong>and</strong>” in this instance refers specifically to terrainrecognized as “non-wetl<strong>and</strong>” areas.Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Lakes Trap <strong>and</strong> Skeet Club Site,Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, et al.In 1992, <strong>the</strong> US Fish <strong>and</strong> Wildlife Service(USFWS) began an investig<strong>at</strong>ion to determine<strong>the</strong> cause of de<strong>at</strong>h of over 200 Canada geese.The geese died as a result of acute leadpoisoning after ingesting lead shot, whichresearch indic<strong>at</strong>ed came from <strong>the</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>rnLakes Trap <strong>and</strong> Skeet Club. The USFWS, in itsrole as N<strong>at</strong>ural Resource Trustee, took action torecover <strong>the</strong> cost of damage to <strong>the</strong> n<strong>at</strong>uralresources (i.e., migr<strong>at</strong>ory geese) underCERCLA. In addition, EPA pursued a separ<strong>at</strong>eaction under <strong>the</strong> Agency’s CERCLA responseauthority. The club had leased <strong>the</strong> property from<strong>the</strong> property owners to oper<strong>at</strong>e a shooting range.Shortly after EPA sent out <strong>the</strong> notice of potentialliability to <strong>the</strong> current <strong>and</strong> former owners <strong>and</strong>oper<strong>at</strong>ors of <strong>the</strong> club site, <strong>the</strong> club closedpermanently.In 1994, EPA issued an Administr<strong>at</strong>ive Order onConsent (AOC) against one current <strong>and</strong> oneformer owner of <strong>the</strong> property where <strong>the</strong> nowclosed Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Lakes Trap <strong>and</strong> Skeet Club wasloc<strong>at</strong>ed. The AOC required <strong>the</strong> owners toperform a site assessment, which included anevalu<strong>at</strong>ion of <strong>the</strong> costs to restore <strong>the</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong>s.In 1998, EPA completed activities to clean up <strong>the</strong>site <strong>and</strong> restore some of <strong>the</strong> n<strong>at</strong>ural resources<strong>and</strong> wetl<strong>and</strong>s. In a negoti<strong>at</strong>ed settlement, EPArecovered $1 million of <strong>the</strong> cost of <strong>the</strong> cleanup.Walter L. Kamb v. United St<strong>at</strong>es Coast Guard,et al.In ano<strong>the</strong>r CERCLA action, Mr. Kamb (courtappointed property guardian) sued <strong>the</strong> U.S.Coast Guard, California Highway P<strong>at</strong>rol, City ofFort Bragg, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> County of Mendocino (<strong>the</strong>defendants) for recovery of cleanup costs underCERCLA. Mr. Kamb had been appointed by <strong>the</strong>Mendocino County Superior Court to sell <strong>the</strong>property on behalf of <strong>the</strong> property owners. Theproperty was formerly used by defendants as arifle, pistol <strong>and</strong> trap range. Soil analysisindic<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> presence of lead in <strong>the</strong> form ofleadshot, bullets, pellets, <strong>and</strong> dust. The courtfound <strong>the</strong> defendants were “responsible parties”(liable for cleanup costs) under CERCLA. No<strong>Chapter</strong> I - Page I-11
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