Chapter I: Environmental and Regulatory Concerns at the Shooting ...

BMP for Lead at Outdoor Shooting Rangeswhose operating areas are situated wholly overland, compliance with the CWA can be achievedby obtaining a NPDES permit for piped orchanneled runoff from the range into water 1 .Shooting ranges impacting wetland areas maybe subject to other regulations found in Section404 of the CWA. This section is the principalfederal regulatory program protecting theNation’s remaining wetland resources. Anyplans for range owners/operators to dredge and/or fill wetlands will come under close scrutiny bythe federal, state and local governments andcitizen groups. Range owners/operators mustcomply with the CWA when range design,redesign, construction, reclamation orremediation occurs in wetland areas.1.2.3 Comprehensive EnvironmentalResponse, Compensation, andLiability Act (CERCLA)The Comprehensive Environmental Response,Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA),imposes liability on past and present owners oroperators of properties where a release of ahazardous substance into the environmentexists. CERCLA is typically used when a party,either the government or private party, hascleaned up someone else’s contamination, andseeks reimbursement from past owners/operators or disposers (potentially responsibleparties or PRPs). Under CERCLA, lead isconsidered a hazardous substance.EPA has the authority to order a PRP to clean upa site or conduct the cleanup and recover itscosts from the 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 the cleanupof ranges, natural resources damages, andhealth assessments and/or health effectsstudies. The following two examples illustratehow shooting ranges (including one operated bythe federal government) can be affected byCERCLA.1The term “land” in this instance refers specifically to terrainrecognized as “non-wetland” areas.Southern Lakes Trap and Skeet Club Site,Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, et al.In 1992, the US Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) began an investigation to determinethe cause of death of over 200 Canada geese.The geese died as a result of acute leadpoisoning after ingesting lead shot, whichresearch indicated came from the SouthernLakes Trap and Skeet Club. The USFWS, in itsrole as Natural Resource Trustee, took action torecover the cost of damage to the naturalresources (i.e., migratory geese) underCERCLA. In addition, EPA pursued a separateaction under the Agency’s CERCLA responseauthority. The club had leased the property fromthe property owners to operate a shooting range.Shortly after EPA sent out the notice of potentialliability to the current and former owners andoperators of the club site, the club closedpermanently.In 1994, EPA issued an Administrative Order onConsent (AOC) against one current and oneformer owner of the property where the nowclosed Southern Lakes Trap and Skeet Club waslocated. The AOC required the owners toperform a site assessment, which included anevaluation of the costs to restore the wetlands.In 1998, EPA completed activities to clean up thesite and restore some of the natural resourcesand wetlands. In a negotiated settlement, EPArecovered $1 million of the cost of the cleanup.Walter L. Kamb v. United States Coast Guard,et al.In another CERCLA action, Mr. Kamb (courtappointed property guardian) sued the U.S.Coast Guard, California Highway Patrol, City ofFort Bragg, and the County of Mendocino (thedefendants) for recovery of cleanup costs underCERCLA. Mr. Kamb had been appointed by theMendocino County Superior Court to sell theproperty on behalf of the property owners. Theproperty was formerly used by defendants as arifle, pistol and trap range. Soil analysisindicated the presence of lead in the form ofleadshot, bullets, pellets, and dust. The courtfound the defendants were “responsible parties”(liable for cleanup costs) under CERCLA. NoChapter I - Page I-11