Updated info
I've extracted information I received about the DFG hearings that were held this morning. Thanks to my friend Tony for getting this to me:
This morning's agenda item on the proposal to ban lead ammunition for hunting purposes in certain hunting zones in California has been covered, and the Commission has now moved on to other business after making some requests of DFG Staff.
DFG staff is being asked, among other things, to provide information regarding the following:
1) Factual information on the availability and cost impact of the
proposed ban as far as fixed ammunition is concerned.
Commission wants data on supply availability, number of
manufacturers, etc.
2) Factual information on enforcement cost impact. This may
include hunter education efforts, as well as bilingual materials
so as to properly notify those farm and ranch personnel
currently involved in varmint and pig control efforts.
3) Additional, if any, factual evidence on lead ammunition
linkage to condor fatalities by ingestion (One apparently
"pro-ban" advocate challenged the "anti-ban" side to
come up with alternative sources of lead that could be
ingested by condors. Apparently he knows nothing about
tire balancing.).
A current "whip count" seems to indicate that at least 3 Commission members favor, or are leaning towards at this time, the limited ban proposal. Substantiated information towards showing that a)non-lead hunting ammunition will be of more limited availability and of substantially higher price; b) that there are other sources of lead in the environment that condors are capable of ingesting; and c) DFG staff is "underestimating" the costs of enforcement on this one could have a substantial effect on the Commission towards their final vote on the matter, currently scheduled in April of 2007.