Game Commission Uses Growing Greener II Monies to Improve Shooting Ranges

Benefiting from Growing Greener II monies, Game Commission officials this week announced the agency is nearing completion of its first major overhaul of public shooting ranges on State Game Lands, as it seeks to address lead remediation, repairs and safety issues.

 

"As hunters head off to the range to sight in their firearms for the upcoming seasons, we urge them to make sure that the public shooting range they may be planning to visit still is open," said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. "While the agency has been spending more than $200,000 annually to maintain these ranges, vandalism and other examples of misuse of these ranges have required far more investment in upkeep than the agency is able to budget.

 

"However, thanks to the Rendell Administration and General Assembly providing the Game Commission a portion of the Growing Greener II monies for environmental projects, we are able to address some of the needs of these ranges."

 

Through Growing Greener II, the Game Commission has already spent more than $1.7 million on lead remediation and clean up. Safety upgrades have cost $454,000, so far.

 

"In addition to having the NRA make an objective review of safety conditions at each range, we contracted with Metals Treatment Technologies, a leader in the nation among companies providing lead remediation and stabilization services on outdoor shooting ranges," Roe said. "This contract includes the services of Dick Peddicord and Associates, a nationally-recognized expert in environmental range issues and lead remediation and abatement. We are requesting lead remediation and stabilization of soil materials removed from backstop berms, side berms and range floors at all Game Commission shooting ranges.

 

"Lead remediation measures are being undertaken to prevent any lead contamination of surface areas and surface and ground waters on State Game Lands. This effort is the largest by any state agency in the country and will result in environmentally clean and safe shooting ranges provided to the general public by the Game Commission."

 

The status of the 30 public shooting ranges on SGLs, by region, is available online.