The United States National Parks Service announced Tuesday it would begin taking action to phase out the use of lead ammunition and lead fishing tackle in parks under its jurisdiction by the end of 2010. The announcement brought forth opposition, especially in the hunting and firearms industry.

Acting National Park Service Director Dan Wenk made the announcement, saying, “We want to take a leadership role in removing lead from the environment.” Officials of the National Park Service said they realize that hunting and fishing play an important role in the complicated and intensive management of wildlife populations.

Because of this, these activities continue in some parks and, in some cases, even enhance the park’s primary purpose to preserve the natural environments and native species.

“The reduction and eventual removal of lead on park service lands will benefit humans, wildlife and ecosystems inside and outside park boundaries and continue our legacy of resource stewardship.” Wenk said.

In a press release just days later, officials with the United States Sportsman’s Alliance (USSA) said, “This decision is seen as a blatant anti-hunting move. It is clearly designed to limit hunting by imposing high-priced alternative products like tungsten, copper, and steel.” The USSA added the decision reduces available conservation dollars as sportsmen reduce purchases of hunting and angling gear.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation also joined the opposition, saying the park service appears to have made its decision without requesting input from wildlife management and conservation groups, or ammunition manufacturers.

“There is no evidence of traditional ammunition harming humans or wildlife populations that would warrant this kind of drastic policy change,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel.

The announcement Tuesday by the Park Service will not significantly impact hunters or the firearms industry directly, as most national park units ban hunting. On the contrary, it is anglers who may be affected even more. Of the more than 84 million acres managed by the National Park Service, more than 170 of their sites offer recreational angling opportunities.

In the United States alone, more than 4,000 tons of lead fishing tackle are commercially manufactured each year and sold to more than 40 million anglers.

The National Park Service isn’t alone in the pursuit to reduce lead in the environment from hunting and fishing.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service banned the use of lead sinkers in 13 wildlife refuges containing habitat used by loons, and also in Yellowstone National Park.

In 1994, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a complete ban on the manufacture, processing and distribution of lead and zinc sinkers for use in America. The EPA estimated that the proposed rule would prevent an estimated 450 million lead and zinc-containing sinkers from being produced each year and from potentially entering the environment. The economic impact (purchase price of sinkers) was estimated to be less than $4 for the average angler per year. They estimated that approximately 4.7 million birds could be potentially saved by the proposed regulation. While a bill was introduced into Congress in 1994, it was never passed into law.

New Hampshire, Maine, New York and Virginia have all instituted varying types of lead bans for fishing.

Canada banned the use of small lead fishing sinkers and jigs in national parks and wildlife areas.

Great Britain banned the use of smaller lead sinkers in 1987. Denmark followed suit and instituted a lead ban on fishing tackle in 2002.

Minnesota chose an educational campaign in an effort to encourage anglers to “Get The Lead Out’’ when they fish.

In March of 2007, the Missouri Department of Conservation set aside 21 conservation areas where only nontoxic-shot-only (lead free) shotgun ammunition can be used. These conservation areas are larger wetland areas where potentially sizeable numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds concentrate in the fall and spring.

In December of 2007, California prohibited the use of projectiles containing lead for hunting deer, bear, wild pig, elk and pronghorn antelope in areas designated as California condor range. Arizona also followed suit with similar requirements.

Outdoors correspondent Jeff Leonard can be reached at outdoors@npgco.com