A Guide for Managing Contamination at Shooting Ranges has been produced by EPA Victoria in conjunction with the EPA Shooter Reference Group, of which FGA are a member. This process has taken approximately 18 months and will form the backbone of any Environmental Management Plans (EMP) produced by ranges.
FGA Development Manager, Daryl Snowdon, has worked closely with the EPA in order to achieve something that FGA branches can work with. Many versions of the guideline have been produced and many changes made. There was an initial push towards steel shot, but while the guide will still mention steel shot the key focus is now the management of lead shot and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (or PAH) in clay targets, meaning both these things are still viable options.
A PDF version of the guide will be available on the EPA website before the end of the year, we will let you know as soon as it comes out and will be available to help you interpret the guide and work out what it means for you and your Branch.
As part of the Victorian Government's Shooting Sports Facilities Program grants, four of the successful branches are required to produce an EMP funded by the grant. They have agreed to work with the FGA National Office to produce a template EMP that will be available for all branches to adapt. Customising the template to produce a range-specific EMP for the four branches required to have them is a key deliverable of the grants. With their gracious agreement we will be able to produce a plan that benefits all Branches.
Daryl Snowdon & Richard Light
