Shooters at the Petaluma Trap and Skeet Club have used lead bullets for their clay pigeon target shooting for 40 years.  Seven tons of lead have accumulated on the property as evidenced by the annual report given to the EPA from the US Coast Guard, who owns the land.

Health officials worry about even trace amounts of lead in gasoline, paint, plumbing, food and consumer products, which is why conservationists and regulators are warning about letting thousands of tons of lead accumulate at shooting ranges statewide.

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Skeet aficionados prefer lead shot, saying non-toxic substitutes cost much more. Steel, one alternative, can damage older guns, takes more powder to shoot and is not as effective, they say.

Jeff Miller, conservation advocate for the Center for Biological Diversity, said there are at least 10 approved nontoxic types of shot other than lead and steel and some were designed to approximate the density and weight of lead.

“As regulations and interest in using non-lead shot increase, the price is going to come down,” Miller said. “Lead’s been a useful metal. But from what we know… there’s no reason to keep using it.”

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