ACTION ALERT-Lead Fishing Weight Ban (statewide!) Introduced in Olympia

[jackelope]

> Please help us stop this bill. Follow the link on the bottom if you agree.
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> The HB 2241 house bill/lead ban would effectively cripple or stop river fishing for salmon and steelhead, trout, bass, walleye, bait, and any other small jig/hook fishery. This would send our citizens and redirect our out of state sportfishers to BC, Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho to fish where these methods are still legal, taking their revenue with them. This opens the doors for expanded future lead bans and could ultimately be expanded to illegalize all lead weights including downrigger balls. Can you imagine if we were forced to have to convert to tungsten? Downrigger balls could be way over $100.00 each! This bill is an anti-fishing bill.
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> The Puget Sound Anglers promotes and educates sportsfishers to be stewards of our resources. We feel that as the largest sportfishing organization in Washington state, that critical decisions such as these should go through us and not around us. We work very hard to safely promote our sports fisheries and are involved in all decision making for them. This bill does not invite us to the table and instead puts us on the table.
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> A number of groups have petitioned the federal EPA numerous times during the last five years to ban the use of lead nationally and have been rejected each time.  The EPA has repeatedly ruled that if lead is not ingested there is no evidence of harm to the environment, public, or our natural resources.  The agency determined that no action was warranted and expressed concern over the enormous economic consequences.  The same petitioners filed another petition in 2011 that is currently under review by EPA and a decision is expected by late February of 2012 which we believe this latest petition will be rejected.  An interesting note is that the commercial industry and Native American tribes are excluded from this legislation.
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> The bill is an effort by environmental and bird watching groups to ban the use of lead under 1 inch in length and 1oz in weight in all state waters.  Passage of this legislation would have very real economic consequences to our industry and recreational fishers.  It must be must be stopped.  According to the latest science the only risk to birds is if the lead is ingested. The WDFW Commission ruled on this issue two years ago by passing lead size restrictions on a small number of lakes that were certified to be home to breeding pairs of loons and any further attempts to expand their policy should be made by this independent citizen commission where we are involved with the decision making.
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> This lead ban is not by the WDFW commission and is going to be heard in Olympia on Thursday Jan 19. This is an end run around our commission where our fishing and resources are dealt with for recreational and commercial fishing and should stay there.
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> Please write to the Committee listed below.  Be respectful in your emails and calls and ask for their support in killing this proposed legislation.  If you reside in any of these legislators districts, be sure to mention that and communicate to them what organization you belong to and the membership.  Also, we need to have our business members and sports fishing organizations present in real numbers to testify or sign in opposition to the legislation at 8:00 AM on Jan 19. Please check here for info.
> http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2241&year=2011#documents

> >
> Rep Dave Upthegrove (Chairman) Dist.33 (D)  dave.upthegrove@leg.wa.gov   360 786-7868               
> Rep. Jeff Morris (Dist. 40) (D)   jeff.morris@leg.wa.gov   360 786-7970           
> Rep. Shelly Short (Dist. 7) (R)    shelly.short@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7908
> Rep. Kirk Pearson (Dist.39) (R) kirk.pearson@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7816
> Rep. Steve Tharinger (Dist. 24) (D)  steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7904
> Rep. Luis Moscoso (Dist. 1) (D) luis.moscoso@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7900   
> Rep. Paul Harris (Dist. 17) (R) paul.harris@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7976
> Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (Dist. 34) (D)  joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7952
> Rep. Dean Takko (Dist. 19) (D) dean.takko@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7806   
> Rep. Larry Crouse (Dist.4) (R)  larry.crouse@leg.wa  360 786-7820 Rep.
> Drew Hansen (Dist. 23 (D)  drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov  360 786 7842 Rep.
> Sharon Wylie (Dist. 49 (D)  sharon.wylie@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7924 Rep.
> Terry Nealey (Dist. 16) (R) terry.nealey@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7828 Rep.
> Laurie Jinkins (Dist. 27) (D) laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7930
> Rep. David Taylor (Dist. 15) (R) david.taylor@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7874
> Rep. Gerry Pollet (Dist 46) (D) pollet.gerry@leg.wa.gov  360- 786-7886
> Rep. Matt Shea (Dist 4) (R)  shea.matt@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7984
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[Elkaholic daWg]

HB 2241 - 2011-12
)

Reducing the introduction of lead into the aquatic environment.

Go to documents...

History of Bill
as of Tuesday, January 17, 2012 4:58 PM

    Sponsors:   Representatives Moscoso, Appleton, Fitzgibbon, Jinkins, Pollet, Roberts, Dickerson, Kenney
 _________________________________________________________________

Another great  :tree1:idea from the party of lawyers! Notice all are D and most are sugar and spice.
 
I thought they needed to work on a budget shortfall? WTF is this?

 Well, here go more emails, and I see Kirk Pearson is on that committee. He'll be with us on this.


Sent to all


> >
> Rep Dave Upthegrove (Chairman) Dist.33 (D)  dave.upthegrove@leg.wa.gov   360 786-7868               
> Rep. Jeff Morris (Dist. 40) (D)   jeff.morris@leg.wa.gov   360 786-7970           
> Rep. Shelly Short (Dist. 7) (R)    shelly.short@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7908
> Rep. Kirk Pearson (Dist.39) (R) kirk.pearson@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7816
> Rep. Steve Tharinger (Dist. 24) (D)  steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7904
> Rep. Luis Moscoso (Dist. 1) (D) luis.moscoso@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7900   
> Rep. Paul Harris (Dist. 17) (R) paul.harris@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7976
> Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (Dist. 34) (D)  joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7952
> Rep. Dean Takko (Dist. 19) (D) dean.takko@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7806   
> Rep. Larry Crouse (Dist.4) (R)  larry.crouse@leg.wa  360 786-7820 Rep.
> Drew Hansen (Dist. 23 (D)  drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov  360 786 7842 Rep.
> Sharon Wylie (Dist. 49 (D)  sharon.wylie@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7924 Rep.
> Terry Nealey (Dist. 16) (R) terry.nealey@leg.wa.gov 360 786-7828 Rep.
> Laurie Jinkins (Dist. 27) (D) laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7930
> Rep. David Taylor (Dist. 15) (R) david.taylor@leg.wa.gov  360 786-7874
> Rep. Gerry Pollet (Dist 46) (D) pollet.gerry@leg.wa.gov  360- 786-7886
> Rep. Matt Shea (Dist 4) (R)  shea.matt@leg.wa.gov 3

[Bigshooter]

Sent my letters.

[Elkaholic daWg]

 first reply....


James,

    I couldn’t agree more and I am adamantly opposed to this bill.  It is a gimmick based on sketchy science.  I am a fisherman as well.

 

 

Matt Shea

State Representative (4th L.D.)

Assistant Floor Leader

Phone:  360-786-7984

Fax:  360-786-1066

Office:  JLOB 437             

[sebek556]

  emails sent

[Dhoey07]

Non lead sinkers are not that expensive http://www.amazon.com/South-Fishing-Lures-Nonlead-Sinkers/dp/B001OM1LR4, and this won't effect downrigger balls, non the less, it just seems like a way to get their foot in the door and start banning more lead.  It doesn't surprise me but i'm against this bill

[lokidog]

Ford lover    the small weights may not be too expensive but what about jigs?  And then add in 2, 3, 4 oz jigs that many people use to fish for bottomfish and lingcod which imo would eventually be added to the list.  I realize you do not support this bill either, but that is the same argument the antis will use, "oh it doesn't cost that much more...."

Here's what I sent:

Rep. Morris,

Please do not support this bill banning the use of lead fishing weights in our state.  As a sportsman, bird watcher, conservationist, I see this bill as just another way for the anti-fishing crowd to attempt to reduce the number of fishermen and women in our state.  The HB 2241 house bill/lead ban would effectively cripple or stop river fishing for salmon and steelhead, trout, bass, walleye, bait, and any other small jig/hook fishery. This would send our citizens and redirect our out of state sportfishers to BC, Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho to fish where these methods are still legal, taking their revenue with them.

In a time when our Department of Fish and Wildlife is facing budget shortfalls, reducing the state income from fishing license sales would be a detriment to the management of all fish and wildlife in this state.  Decisions about fish and wildlife management should be made using science not the ballot box or special interest legislation.  The Federal EPA has rejected several proposed bans of lead fishing weights in the past few years.  The WDFW Commission ruled on this issue two years ago by passing lead size restrictions on a small number of lakes that were certified to be home to breeding pairs of loons and any further attempts to expand their policy should be made by this independent citizen commission where we are involved with the decision making.

Please encourage your colleagues to vote NO on this bill and save the hard-working sportsmen/conservationists of WA State from having to deal with more pointless regulations that restrict our families’ enjoyment and use of the outdoors.

Thank you,

Ed Fisher and Family
Decatur Island, WA

[huntrights]

Thank you for posting this ALERT.  I emailed all of the committee members asking them to oppose the bill.  I noted that two of the committee members are sponsors of the bill (Moscoso and Fitzgibbon).  I also notified the American Sportfishing Association ( http://www.asafishing.org/ ), NRA Hunters Rights ( http://www.nrahuntersrights.org/Default.aspx ), and NRA-ILA ( http://www.nraila.org/ ).  We need as much help as we can get to fight these political battles.  If you know of other organizations that can step in to help, pass the word on to them.

The wording in the summary for this bill is very similar to the wording in the petition submitted to the EPA by The Center for Biological Diversity and two other anti-fishing groups.  This is an excerpt from the notification from the American Sportfishing Association:

"On November 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was yet again petitioned by the Center for Biological Diversity and two other anti-fishing groups, requesting that the agency regulate the manufacture and sale of lead fishing tackle of certain sizes and uses under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)."   

This is serious folks!  Write your representatives and the committee members.

[Wenatcheejay]

I was very outspoken as were a very few about the ban for lead shot in regard to upland bird. It seemed the majority here did not care. They felt that it might be good, it might make people a better shot since it increased the cost so much. Well, would this not make people more careful with their setups in the water?     

The goal of The Center For Biological Diversity is to end recreation fishing and hunting harvests. Nothing they do is in our interests.

With the rant over, thanks jackalope for posting this and I will post when I get a letter out to every member 

[huntrights]

Good news!  I just receive a communication from one of the committee members indicating the bill is dead and going nowhere.
Thanks to all that wrote in.

Hold on!  I just received another email from another representative that said he plans on voting against the bill.  Maybe it's not a done deal yet.  Keep writing those emails to keep the pressure on!

By the way, I also received a response from the American Sportfishinhg Association ( http://www.asafishing.org/ ) indicating that they had "... submitted extensive comments to the Committee on Environment last week. ASA also issued an action alert through our angler advocacy initiative."

I would highly recommend that all sportsmen get on their KeepAmericaFishing distribution list so that you’ll be alerted to any new issues ( https://www.keepamericafishing.org/ ) and can take action when needed.  Being informed is the first and most important line of defense against these endless attacks.  Hunters and fishermen are not separate entities; we are all in this together (many/most of us are hunters and fishermen).

Thanks again to all that wrote in to protect our rights.  Thanks again to Jackalope for the original post to bring this to our attention.   

[huntrights]

I just received the following notification from Keep America Fishing ( https://www.keepamericafishing.org/ ) that is part of the American Sportfishing Association ( http://www.asafishing.org/ ).  Thanks to all that wrote the committee members.  Jackalope, thank you again for the original post.  Being informed and writing our representatives makes a difference.

"UPDATE: Proposed Ban on Lead Fishing Tackle Is Off the Table in Washington State
Thank you for taking action to defeat this unnecessary legislation

Because of your quick action, and that of other KeepAmericaFishing™ angler advocates in Washington and across the country, a burdensome and unwarranted lead fishing tackle ban is no longer being considered by the Washington state legislature. HB 2241 was quickly defeated in the House Environment Committee and has been removed from the committee’s agenda for the remainder of its legislative session.
Banning lead sinkers and jigs is neither reasonable nor warranted without the scientific data to support it. Furthermore, this legislation was introduced following the implementation of a highly unpopular and controversial partial lead tackle ban in 2011.
You helped stop this burdensome, unwarranted and scientifically unsupported legislation from moving forward in the state legislature. This is a significant victory for Washington’s angling community and we thank you for taking action!"