ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF OF OUTDOOR …

1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF OUTDOOR shooting ranges DISCLAIMER This manual is intended to provide useful general information to shooting range managers. The National shooting Sports Foundation and EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc. do not certify or approve ranges or range designs. While every effort has been made to provide up-to-date technical information, this manual is not to be used as a substitute for consultation with scientists, engineers, attorneys, and other appropriate professionals who should be called upon to make specific recommend actions for individual range design and management.

2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS of Construction and Management of OUTDOOR shooting ranges Copyright' 1997 by National shooting Sports Foundation All rights reserved. This book or portions thereof may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the National shooting Sports Foundation. All inquiries should be addressed to Publications Director, National shooting Sports Foundation, 11 Mile Hill Road, Newtown, CT 06470-2359 PREFACE Statement of Ideals for ENVIRONMENTAL Stewardship at OUTDOOR shooting ranges The shooting sports community has long been committed to protecting the quality of the environment for ourselves and the community.

3 This commitment extends to managing our business operations to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment. We recognize our responsibility for, and the benefits of, managing our land, water and wildlife for the enjoyment of future generations. Our daily activities reflect the fundamental importance of well-founded ENVIRONMENTAL stewardship to the shooting sports community and to the public at large. The shooting sports community is committed to well-founded ENVIRONMENTAL stewardship in all ASPECTS of our service to our customers.

4 To best serve our clients and our public community, shooting range owners, operators and employees will: Design and operate ranges to minimize potential impact on wildlife resources Employ practical means of managing spent ammunition to protect ground water, surface water, wetlands and wildlife Employ erosion control and other practices to conserve soil and protect water quality Employ practical means of managing sound S A A M I SPORTING ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS' INSTITUTE, INC.

5 Since 1926 FLINTLOCK RIDGE OFFICE CENTER 11 MILE HILL ROAD NEWTON, CT 06470 203/426-4358 FAX 203/426-1087 shooting RANGE GUIDANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE PROJECT MANAGER: Bob Byrne, Wildlife Management Institute Mark Begley, Massachusetts Dept. of ENVIRONMENTAL Protection David Bopp, Amateur Trapshooting Association Larry Ference, National shooting Sports Foundation Bill Gibbings, Dept.

6 Of Navy Mike Hampton, National Sporting Clays Association Doug Kliever, Cleary, Gottlieb, Stein & Hamilton Charlie Knott, Remington Arms Company Holden Kriss, Markham Park Range Susan Lamson, National Rifle Association of America David Lyman, Blue Trail Range Jim Morrin, Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon Vic Ordija, Sporting Goods Properties Jim Pickett, Winchester Division/Olin Corporation Bill Poole, National Rifle Association Steve Sanetti, Sturm, Ruger & Company Greg Schirf, Dept.

7 Of Navy Stan Schneider, Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources Bill Stevens, Federal Cartridge Company Brian Vanderwater, Izaak Walton League of America i CONTENTS Page Disclaimer Preface - Statement of Ideals List of Figures .. v i List of Tables .. viii How to Use This Manual .. ix 1. PURPOSE, SCOPE, ORGANIZATION AND LEGAL/REGULATORY CONTEXT .. 1-1 INTRODUCTION .. 1-1 PURPOSE .. 1-1 SCOPE .. 1-2 SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THIS DOCUMENT.

8 1-3 LEGAL/REGULATORY CONTEXT .. 1-3 Federal Laws and Regulations .. 1-4 Overview of the Clean Water Act (CWA) .. 1-4 Overview of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) .. 1-5 Overview of the Comprehensive ENVIRONMENTAL Response, Compensation and Liability Act .. 1-6 State and Local Laws and Regulations .. 1-7 SUMMARY OF RELEVANT CASE LAW RELATING TO shooting ranges .. 1-7 Introduction .. 1-7 Implications of Current Rulings.

9 1-8 Clean Water Act .. 1-8 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act .. 1-8 Conclusion .. 1-9 2. COMMUNITY RELATIONS .. 2-1 2 .1 FUNDAMENTAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS ACTIVITIES .. 2-1 2 .2 SOUND .. 2-3 2 .2 .1 Issue .. 2-3 2 .2 .2 Management Techniques .. 2-5 2 .2 .2 .1 Operational Approaches .. 2-5 2 .2 .2 .2 Siting Considerations .. 2-6 2.

10 2 .2 .3 Engineering Approaches .. 2-6 2 .2 .2 .4 Vegetative Approaches .. 2-7 ii 3. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND TECHNIQUE S TO ADDRESS THEM .. 3-1 LEAD .. 3-1 Issues .. 3-5 Surface Water .. 3-5 Soil and Groundwater .. 3-7 Potential Contamination of Bird and Wildlife Food .. 3-8 Management Techniques .. 3-8 Recovery and Recycling .. 3-8 Management of Stormwater Runoff.