Alexander City Shooting Club

 

 Lead abatement, reclamation, and recycle policy 

                  Modified and updated May 18, 2013

                As a 21^st century gun club, it is our responsibility to be environmentally and ecologically responsible. The contaminant or pollutant most often associated with gun clubs and / or shooting ranges is lead. In order to avoid the fate that has unfortunately befallen some clubs across the country, it is best to have programs and practices in place to minimize the long term effects our hobby has on the surroundings.

            This is an outline of best management practices (BMPs) and basic steps that the Alexander City Shooting Club has or will adopt to make certain our future as an association remains viable.

            An integrated lead management program requires a segmented but achievable approach that produces results that have been proven to meet or exceed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for outdoor ranges while remaining fiscally plausible for smaller clubs.

 Step 1 - Control and contain lead bullets and bullet fragments

 Step 2 - Prevent migration of lead to the subsurface and surrounding surface water bodies

 Step 3 - Remove the lead from the range and recycle

 Step 4 - Document activities and keep accurate records

There are a variety of containment device options available that serve as

BMPs to control lead. The principle behind all of them is trapping and

 containing the actual bullet. They include:

 Earthen Berms and Backstops

 Sand Traps

 Steel Traps

 Lamella or Rubber Granule Traps

            In use on the Alexander City Shooting Club (ACSC) you will find the first two types in use – earthen berms and sand traps. These are the main methods of projectile containment on both the rifle and pistol ranges. 

BMPs TO PREVENT LEAD MIGRATION

A.    Monitoring and adjusting soil pH and binding lead by the addition of lime

The BMP for monitoring and adjusting soil pH is an important range program that can effect lead migration. Of particular concern are soils with low pH values (i.e., acidic conditions), because lead mobility increases in acidic conditions since the acid of the soils contributes to the lead break down. The ideal soil pH value for shooting ranges is between 6.5 and 8.5. This BMP is important because many soils in the eastern United States have pH values lower than 6.2. Determining the pH is done annually, either by a relatively inexpensive pH meter that can be bought at a garden center or by our county agent. If the soil pH is determined to be below 6.0, the pH can be raised by spreading lime.

            Areas that benefit most from having lime spread are major impact areas on berms or backstops, the bases of berms or backstops, and any barren ground where visible projectile fragments are easily seen. This also holds true for impact areas for shot, specifically if not limited to a restricted area.

            In addition to lime spreading, another way to control dissipation and absorption of lead particulate is phosphate spreading. This method is recommended where lead is widely dispersed in range soils or there is a high potential for vertical lead transport due to low soil pH and / or a shallow water table. Another mitigating factor is the presence of surface clays contributing to a hard surface soil and sparse vegetation. Under these circumstances or a combination of these circumstances, range soils may benefit from phosphate treatment. Unlike lime spreading, the main purpose of phosphate spreading is not to adjust soil pH but to bind the lead particles to decrease the potential amount of lead that can migrate off-site or into the subsurface. It is noteworthy that phosphate spreading and lime spreading can be done in conjunction, a tremendous time – and therefore – money saver. This technique is most useful to areas that are difficult to reach with reclamation equipment. All of the above factors add up to this quite possibly being the method of choice for the preponderance of the surface area of the ACSC. Please note that this is a process that must be frequently repeated.

                                              LEAD REMOVAL AND RECYCLING

            Possibly the single most important BMP in preventing or minimizing lead migration off-site is lead reclamation. Implementation of a regular reclamation program can and will allow our club to avoid any long term difficulties and unnecessary expenses. We are located in an area that fits within the median precipitation range which negates an extremely aggressive reclamation effort as would be necessary in a high precipitation region.

            Periodic lead removal activities must be planned, whether by volunteer effort or by contracted professional means. This typically requires one or more of the following:

1.     Hand raking and sifting

2.     Screening

3.     Vacuuming

4.     Soil washing (wet screening, gravity separation, pneumatic separation)

Numbers 3 and 4 are general professionally done with proper equipment on site. Numbers 1 and 2 can be accomplished by club members with all necessary precautions.

            Please note that if lead reclamation is done by a reclamation company, the club can often profit from the sales of reclaimed material if enough is present. The percentages of  amounts involved are determined prior to  start of reclamation. To be on the safe side, if a professional service is engaged, an end user certificate should always be acquired, whether it be from a scrap yard or smelter. This certifies that the hazardous material was properly disposed of. If a professional service is to be engaged, please note that they are generally in very high demand and it may take up to a year for them to respond to our request. It will be necessary to document dates and points of contact.

            This is a general plan with multiple options. It is not meant or intended to be all inclusive or to address all situations or combinations of situations. We have a plan in place and with projected growth and expansion of our membership and facilities the ability to move into the future with confidence.