Lead Endangers Animals Daily Act of 2020

In 1991, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service required the use of nontoxic ammunition for all waterfowl hunting.

Research has shown that the presence of lead in the environment poses a threat to human and wildlife health.

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that lead is toxic to both humans and animals, and can negatively affect nearly every organ and system in the human body, including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. Lead exposure interferes with the development of the nervous system and is therefore particularly toxic to children, causing potentially permanent learning and behavioral disorders.

Lead is a potent neurotoxin, for which no safe exposure level exists for humans. The use of lead has been outlawed in and removed from paint, gasoline, children’s toys, and many other items to protect human health and wildlife.

Wildlife, including federally listed threatened and endangered species, is at risk of lead toxicosis through the ingestion of lead ammunition, either directly by ingesting lead from spent ballistic materials while foraging, or indirectly by scavenging carcasses and viscera left by hunters. Lead may also pollute soil and water around outdoor shooting ranges.

Lead ammunition also endangers human food supplies. Dairy and beef cattle have developed lead poisoning after feeding in areas where spent lead ammunition has accumulated. Spent lead ammunition can also contaminate crops, vegetation, and waterways.

Humans are at risk of lead toxicosis through the consumption of game meat harvested with lead ammunition.

Alternatives to lead ammunition are readily available, and studies have shown that non-lead ammunition performs just as well as lead-based ammunition.

In January 2017, the outgoing Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service issued Director’s Order 219. In March 2017, the Principal Deputy Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service repealed this Order.

In general— Except as provided in subsection (c), and not later than 1 year after enactment, the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall issue final regulations prohibiting the discharge of any firearm using ammunition other than nonlead ammunition certified under subsection (b) on all lands and waters under the jurisdiction and control of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Certification— The Director shall, for the purposes of enforcing this section and in consultation with State and Tribal governments, establish and annually update a list of nonlead ammunition.

Exceptions— The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply to—

Penalties— A person that knowingly violates subsection (a) may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of no more than $500 for the first violation. A second or subsequent violation shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000.

Ammunition— The term ammunition means any bullet, ball, sabot, slug, buckshot, shot, pellet, or other projectile that is expelled from a firearm through a barrel by force.

Director— The term Director means the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Explosive— The term explosive has the meaning given such term in section 844 of title 18, United States Code.

Firearm— The term firearm means any weapon which expels ammunition by the action of an explosive or compressed air.

Nonlead ammunition— The term nonlead ammunition means ammunition in which there is no lead content, excluding the presence of trace amounts of lead.

Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

Trace amounts— The term trace amounts means one percent or less by weight of the total weight of the ammunition.