EPA Denies Lead Bullet and Fishing Sinkers Petition, Cites Lack of Authority

Summary

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has denied a petition filed by several groups in 2010 to prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution of lead bullets and shot under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 6(a), citing a lack of authority to regulate lead in these products due to the exclusion of shells and cartridges from the definition of 'chemical substance' in TSCA section 3(2)(B)(v). The EPA is still considering the petition to ban lead fishing sinkers and will respond within the 90-day period provided in TSCA section 21.