Eyes on the Issues

November 4, 2010 (WASHINGTON, DC) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has denied a petition calling for a ban on the manufacture, use and processing of lead in fishing gear.

In a letter to the petitioners, EPA indicated that the petitioners have not demonstrated that the requested rule is necessary to protect against an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, as required by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The letter further indicates that the increasing number of limitations on the use of lead fishing gear on some federal and state lands, as well as various education and outreach activities, call into question whether a national ban on lead in fishing gear would be the least burdensome, adequately protective approach to address the concern, as called for under TSCA. EPA’s letter also notes that the prevalence of non-lead alternatives in the marketplace continues to increase.

On August 3, 2010, the American Bird Conservancy and a number of other groups petitioned EPA under Section 21 of the Toxic Substances Control Act to “prohibit the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of lead for shot, bullets, and fishing sinkers.” On August 27, 2010, EPA denied the portion of the petition relating to lead in ammunition because the agency does not have the legal authority to regulate this type of product under TSCA.

New Jersey

Current Pro Conservation Legislation In New Jersey
By Tom Connors

New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

TRENTON, NJ --(Ammoland.com)- On August 19, Governor Christie has signed into law the much awaited bow perimeter bill.

Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senators Van Drew and Oroho, and Assemblypersons Burzichelli, McHose, Albano, Milam, Moriarity, Chiusano, Addiego, Rudder and Riley that reduces the safety perimeter for bowhunting from 450 feet to 150 feet around occupied buildings.

“The eradication of natural predators of deer, such as the grey wolf, the mountain lion and eastern coyote has allowed the deer population to thrive and increase,” said Chiusano.

“Hunting is vital to furthering agriculture in the state, and it helps preserve our forests. Bow hunting, in particular, is a safe and effective means of helping to control the deer herd which is essential to their overall well-being.”

Governor Christie also signed into law a measure that will authorize counties to develop community based deer management plans and apply for special deer management permits for county-owned lands.

The diverse conservation organizations that supported these bills include the United Bow Hunters of New Jersey, NJ Audubon, Jersey Coast Anglers Association, Trout Unlimited, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, NJ Farm Bureau.

The New Jersey Angling and Hunting Conservation Caucus have inspired new legislative leadership. Senators Donald Norcross and Steve Oroho will chair the Senate seats.

Assemblymen John Burzichelli and Gary Chiusano will chair the Assembly seats.

New Jersey joins thirty-eight fellow states of the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses. This sportsmen’s legislative caucus at its inception gathered interest from a bi-partisan group of twenty-six legislators, all having an interest in advancing angling, hunting, trapping, and forestry and conservation issues. The NJAHCC will provide opportunities for legislators, outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen to share information educate and inspire each other about the challenges and possibilities of New Jersey’s forests, marine, fish and wildlife resources.

The interaction between legislators and the outdoor community will ensure that our traditions and heritage that we cherish will continue and thrive. The New Jersey Outdoor Alliance looks forward with earnest working closely with our state caucus, the sharing of information, ideas and interaction with other state caucuses.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 17 state public access programs will receive grants totaling $11.76 million through the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). The state programs were selected from 28 applications vying for the competitive VPA-HIP grants program that was announced July 8, 2010.

“This administration is committed to preserving and enhancing the great conservation legacy of our nation’s hunters and anglers for the benefit of current and future generations,” Vilsack said. “VPA-HIP will help achieve conservation goals and increase opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation by providing greater access to privately held lands and we are excited to assist these 17 states in developing new and enhancing existing public access and habitat incentive programs.”

The 17 states and their grant amounts are:

Arizona – $600,000

Colorado – $445,318

Idaho – $400,000

Illinois – $525,250

Iowa – $500,000

Kansas – $1,500,000

Kentucky – $651,515

Michigan – $457,449

Minnesota – $582,367

Nebraska – $1,091,164

North Dakota – $300,000

Oregon – $786,795

Pennsylvania – $1,500,000

South Dakota – $558,325

Utah – $84,837

Washington – $836,999

Wisconsin – $936,040.

The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program incentivizes owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch and forest land to voluntarily give hunters, fishermen, hikers, bird watchers and other recreational outdoor enthusiasts access to land for their enjoyment. Program funds were made available to states and tribal governments through a competitive process. Eligible states and tribal governments could request funding for existing public access programs, to create new public access programs, or to provide incentives to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled lands. VPA-HIP funds may be used to provide rental payments and other incentives, such as technical or conservation services to landowners who, in return, provide the public access to their land.

Funding priority was given to proposals that use the grant money to address these objectives:

* Maximize participation by landowners;
* Ensure that land enrolled in the program has appropriate wildlife habitat;
* Provide incentives to strengthen wildlife habitat improvement efforts on Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) land, if available;
* Supplement funding and services from other federal, state, tribal government or private resources that is provided in the form of cash or in-kind services; and
* Inform the public about the location of public access land

FSA will open the grant application period for fiscal year 2011 funding after publication of a final rule. It is anticipated that the grant application period for states and tribal governments will occur in the late fall of 2010.

For more information on VPA-HIP and other FSA programs, visit http://www.fsa.usda.gov/vpa.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) welcomed more than 50 members of Congress and over 500 other guests, including government officials, congressional staff and outdoor industry representatives, for its annual banquet and auction Wednesday night.

The yearly banquet and auction provides an opportunity for the outdoor sporting community to recognize the tremendous work of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC). Members of Congress were able to meet with the leaders of the hunting, fishing, and shooting sports communities to be acknowledged for their efforts on legislation directly impacting sportsmen.

“We work with members of the Caucus every day on issues of importance in keeping sportsmen active in hunting, fishing and the shooting sports, and the banquet is the best opportunity we have all year to thank them for their diligence in what has been a successful year for pro-sportsmen legislation,” said CSF President Jeff Crane.

A reception and silent auction preceded the dinner and live auction, where a large number of items, including guided hunting and fishing trips, vacation getaways, rifles, shotguns, pistols, fur coats and other prizes were auctioned.

“We are very grateful to all those supporters who attended and sponsored this event and provided some fantastic auction items, all benefitting our mission of working with the bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to keep sportsmen in the field,” said CSF Board Chairman Tom Baker.

This 2010 Banquet & Auction was hosted by Anheuser-Busch, Amgen, ATK, Cabela’s, Cox Enterprises Inc., Dallas Safari Club, Diageo, Ford, Intermedia Outdoors, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Outdoor Channel, Remington, Sportsman Channel, Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America and Yamaha.

The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) today announced a brand new way for America’s hunters and anglers to support access and a voice for sportsmen with elected officials, land and wildlife management agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGO’s), and sportsmen allied industry groups across the nation.

Beginning today, friends of CSF can support the Foundation and its goals by applying for and utilizing the new Congressional Sportmen’s Foundation Visa® Platinum Rewards Card. UMB Bank will donate $50 and a percentage of all future purchases on the card to CSF.

“People often ask, “Jeff, although CSF is not a membership organization, how can I contribute?” said CSF President Jeff Crane. “I now have an answer. We are very proud to partner with UMB Bank and Visa to offer sportsmen and women the opportunity to support CSF.”

The Congressional Sportmen’s Foundation Visa® Platinum Rewards Card offers customers an array of card features with no annual fee and a low introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for six months.

In addition to all the benefits of the card, through this card program, sportsmen across the nation can get satisfaction knowing they are supporting CSF in its mission every time they use the card.

One of the great features of the new card is the option to design your own card. Card holders can upload any hunting, fishing or any outdoor sporting activity photograph to a new CSF Visa® Platinum Rewards Card.

To apply for the new Congressional Sportmen’s Foundation Visa® Platinum Rewards Card or to learn more about CSF, please visit www.sportsmenslink.org

From CCA Newsletter

Saltwater recreational fishing reopened in the vast majority of Louisiana’s state waters two weeks ago, and it’s time for anglers to return to the water with their families and friends, according to Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. The governor joined several representatives of the recreational fishing community on a fishing trip last week in the Gulf of Mexico south of Houma, Louisiana, catching a variety of popular sport fish.
Governor Jindal said, “One of the greatest traditions in the Sportsman’s Paradise is recreational fishing. That tradition was put on hold the first half of our summer because of closures arising out of the Deepwater Horizon incident, but now most of our state waters are reopened to recreational fishing. From what I saw firsthand and what we caught, fishing is back!”
In a national show of support for regional anglers, Jindal was joined on his fishing trip by Center for Coastal Conservation President Jeff Angers; International Game Fish Association President Rob Kramer; American Sportfishing Association President Mike Nussman; Sport Fishing magazine Editor-in-Chief Doug Olander, and Coastal Conservation Association Tide magazine Editor Ted Venker.
These recreational fishing-industry leaders thanked the governor for his leadership to help ensure that coastal anglers can once again get back out on the water with families and friends. “Sport fishermen are America’s first conservationists,” Angers said. “Re-opening safe waters and getting anglers back to the coast is the best thing for conservation – and for recovery.”
With coastal businesses still reeling from fisheries closures at the height of their busiest season, Nussman noted the importance of making whole the thousands of local businesses dependent on recreational fishing. Jindal promised to seek a timely resolution on reopening federal waters that remain closed to all fishing.
“Countless bait shops and tackle stores have seen their inventories nearly frozen on their shelves for more than three months, and while there may be a light at the end of the tunnel now, the effect of the closures will continue to ripple up the supply chain,” said Nussman. “Getting anglers back on the water is the first step for those businesses to get back on their feet, but the long shadow cast by 100 days of little or no business activity must be addressed.”
Support for coastal resources was atop the agenda on the trip. “If you look hard enough, every crisis presents an opportunity and though it is difficult to see a silver lining in this disaster, CCA is inspired by the governor’s vision and leadership as a true conservationist. He clearly sees the need for a long-term commitment to habitat and coastal restoration,” said Venker. “Proceeding with plans to build a hatchery and marine research center may be the key to safeguarding Louisiana’s amazing array of sportfishing opportunities now and in the future.”
Capt. Tommy Pellegrin of Houma, Louisiana, hosted the trip aboard his charter boat, Reel Life, a 39-foot custom boat built by Jeanerette, Louisiana boat-builder Gravois Boats. After a 50-mile trip into the Gulf of Mexico beyond the closed area on Wednesday, Pellegrin put his clients onto hungry fish swarming around oil rigs. With a request from his son to bring home fish for dinner, the Governor returned to Baton Rouge with an ice chest of mangrove snapper filets the Jindals grilled on Thursday and Saturday.
“We didn’t see a drop of oil on the two-hour boat ride across the closed area and passed several prime fishing areas that would certainly have been just as productive,” said Kramer. “You can tell by the nonstop action that these fish have been under no pressure. All the ingredients for spectacular fishing trips are here – all that’s missing are the anglers.”
While the state was able to act quickly to open inshore areas to recreational and some commercial fishing, Jindal expressed frustration that the federal process of testing fish samples for oil contamination has been so slow and said he has urged the federal government to expedite the testing so that federal closed areas can be reopened as soon as possible.
“We have a world-class recreational fishery here in Louisiana, and anglers around the country have been waiting to get the all-clear to plan their fishing trips to our waters,” said Jindal. “We need to see a sense of urgency from the federal government. Of course they must make sure these areas are safe, but we also want those determinations to be made in a more timely manner, so our citizens can begin to put their lives back together.”
After enjoying the day’s calm seas and remarkably steady fishing, Olander said he was impressed by the resilience of Louisiana’s fisheries.
“The last few years have presented a tremendous set of challenges to Louisiana, but it remains one of the best places to fish anywhere,” he said. “I’ve fished all over and have long maintained that Louisiana’s sport fishery is truly one of the best in the world,” adding that the state’s residents, with a long and deep sporting heritage, appreciate what they have.

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The U.S. Senate could possibly vote on H.R. 5552 the “Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act of 2010” or so-called FAET legislation today. The bill was passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House 412-6 last month.

The nation’s 32 million hunters, anglers, trappers, recreational shooters and other outdoor enthusiasts moved closer today to gaining increased access to hundreds of thousands of acres of federal land.

An amendment passed overwhelmingly 404-1 by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member and former Co-Chair, Rep. Ron Kind, included in the passage today of H.R. 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives, directs 1.5 percent of the annual authorized Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding to be used for projects securing recreational public access to existing federal lands through easements, rights-of-way, or fee title acquisitions from willing land sellers.

“This amendment is an important victory for sportsmen by opening access to Federal land that is inaccessible or significantly restricted to the activities that we cherish,” said Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation President Jeff Crane.

An amendment passed overwhelmingly 404-1 by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member and former Co-Chair, Rep. Ron Kind to be included in H.R. 3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives, would direct 1.5 percent of the annual authorized Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding to be used for projects securing recreational public access to existing federal lands through easements, rights-of-way, or fee title acquisitions from willing land sellers.