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Memo

To: Liz Stolp, Department of Administration, Bureau of Procurement

From: Kelly Luck, INFORM's Great Lakes Regional Representative

Date: 2/23/01

# **Re:** Lead-free practice ammunition

# Hi Liz, 

Although, I\'ve just begun researching alternatives to leaded
ammunition, there appears to be a fair amount of information available
on the subject. Below is a summary of what I\'ve learned so far. As I
mentioned, I will be out of town all next week. I\'d be happy to discuss
this issue further when I return March 5^th^.

# Environmental and health issues

In recent years, several outdoor firing ranges have been faced with the
high cost of remeditating soil (and sometimes groundwater) contaminated
with lead from bullet debris. Not only can lead pollute the environment,
but it can also cause potential health concerns. When shooting
conventional leaded ammunition, lead dust can be inhaled. Once absorbed,
the lead accumulates in the body, so even very small doses can pose a
health hazard. Lead is a potent toxin that can cause irreversible damage
to the kidneys, nervous system, brain, and the reproductive systems of
both males and females. Lead poisoning often goes undetected because the
initial symptoms are similar to common ailments.

The use of lead-free ammunition is gaining popularity with police
academies and other firing range facilities as a strategy for reducing
hazardous waste generation, while also protecting the health of range
workers and users.

# The basics about lead-free ammunition 

There are several lead-free products available, including ammunition
made from tin, zinc, copper, steel, polymers, and various composite
materials. Beyond evaluating these constituents, there are other factors
to consider.

Ammunition can be made with a lead-free detonating mixture (known as a
primer) or a lead-free bullet (referred to as a projectile) or both
components can be made without lead. The facilities interviewed by
INFORM indicated a preference for both lead-free projectiles and
primers.

There is also frangible and non-frangible lead-free ammunition. A
frangible bullet disintegrates into a fine dust upon impact and is
desirable for close-range training. Non-frangible ammunition \"breaks
up\" when it hits a target and can ricochet, making it better suited for
long-distance ranges.

# Cost and Performance of lead-free ammunition

In general, the cost of lead-free ammunition is about twice the cost of
leaded ammunition. However, all the facilities interviewed by INFORM
made it clear that the cost to purchase lead-free ammunition more than
offsets the cost to regularly clean the sites and manage the lead debris
as hazardous waste. Furthermore, the price of lead-free ammunition has
continued to drop over time, as demand for the product has risen.

The facilities interviewed by INFORM said that the lead-free ammunition
performs satisfactorily. While there were some reports of slight
performance differences (such as a variance in the recoil), all said the
benefits outweigh any differences. The Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center in Georgia has conducted extensive testing on the performance of
non-toxic ammunition. If the State chooses to pursue this further,
contact names and testing specifics can be provided.

# Availability of lead-free ammunition

# A quick search on the Internet reveals that there are a number of companies making lead-free ammunition. Below is a list of the vendors awarded the lead-free ammunition contract for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia:

BLOUNT Inc. -- Lewiston, ID, 208-799-3987, Diane Ellis

Delta Frangible Ammunition -- Stafford, VA, 540-720-5778, Terri Johnson

Federal Cartridge Co. -- Anoka, MN 800-322-2342, Marge Osha

Longbow, Inc. -- Martha, OK, 580-482-2600, John Mullins

Remington Arms Co. -- Madison, NC, 336-548-8899, Greg Foster

Simuniton -- Quebec, Canada, 450-581-3080, Michel Lajoie

Olin Corp -- East Alton, IL, 618-258-2000, Larry Turi

# Recommendations pertaining to the bid solicitation

INFORM recommends that these alternatives be shared with the agencies
that use the ammunition contract to determine if there is interest in
participating in a pilot project to test the use of lead-free
ammunition. The expiring contract could either be extended for a few
months or renewed for a year to allow time to involve the affected
agencies in evaluating the alternatives.

# Who else is doing this?

Several local and federal academies as well as private training
facilities are using lead-free ammunition. Many facilities have focused
on making indoor ranges lead-free since it is costly to filter the air
and limit the lead exposure in these enclosed spaces. Below are just a
few examples of those switching to lead-free ammunition.

# [City of Phoenix, Police Department Police Academy:]{.underline} The following summary was excerpted from the City of Phoenix Annual Pollution Prevention Progress Report for 1998:

> "The Police Department has six precincts and two resource bureaus
> located throughout the City which have indoor firing ranges for
> practice shooting. Lead abatement projects were completed at each
> indoor range in 1996 and only non-leaded ammunition has been used in
> the indoor ranges since the abatement project was completed.
>
> After 1996, the Police Department Academy changed their internal
> policy concerning "qualifying shooting." Prior to 1996, officers were
> required to perform quarterly "qualifying" shoots using leaded
> ammunition because the State of Arizona requires that ammunition used
> in qualifying must be the equivalent of the ammunition used in the
> line of duty, i.e. leaded ammunition. When the Police Department
> changed the quarterly shoots to "practice" shoots as opposed to
> "qualifying" shoots, the result was that non-leaded ammunition could
> be used for the quarterly practice shooting.

# The change from "quarterly qualifying" to "quarterly practice" coupled with changing to non-leaded ammunition in the indoor ranges has resulted in a significant reduction of leaded ammunition use at the Academy. Between 1996 and 2000 over 1 million rounds of non-leaded ammunition (such as 9millimeter, 40 caliber, 45 caliber, etc.) were used at the indoor ranges." 

[Indiana Law Enforcement Academy:]{.underline} The Academy will begin
requiring the use of lead-free bullets in its indoor range in July 2001.
They are also building a new "shot house" this spring that will be kept
lead-free. In June, the Academy will use the lead-free shot house to
host some of the sporting events affiliated with the 2001 World Police &
Fire Games. Over 10,000 athletes from 60 countries are expected to
participate in the games. All those competing in events at the Academy
will be expected to use lead-free ammunition.

[Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco,
GA]{.underline}: The following paragraphs have been excerpted from the
1997 and 1998 Annual FLETC Reports:

> "Throughout 1998, the Firearms Division and the Safety, Security, and
> Environmental Division conducted tests using various brands of
> non-toxic ammunition. One recent advance in non-toxic ammunition is
> the development of stranded zinc loads, which have performance
> characteristics comparable to the service ammunition presently used by
> the participating organizations.
>
> Extensive tests to assess performance characteristics, training
> requirements, safety concerns involving ricochet and splash back, and
> the associated health benefits, show the stranded zinc ammunition
> meets the Center\'s needs at this time. Several ammunition
> manufacturers are developing non-toxic ammunition, and it is
> anticipated that a wider selection of calibers at lower competitive
> prices will soon be available.
>
> The conversion to non-toxic, lead free ammunition within the Federal
> Law Enforcement Training Center Indoor Ranges is virtually complete."