Zinke, the new Sec of Int, besides riding to work his first day on a horse, also immediately made two orders.
The first rescinding a lead ban in Wildlife Refuges has more to it than one would think. Lead in bullet sized chunks is benign, even in chunks that come from bullets, people have been eating meat with lead in it for a long time, there’s even a CDC report, but that’s not the issue.
Alaska has vast refuges where many Alaskan Natives hunt for much of their food. People in villages where more than 50% live below the poverty line. Those people probably shoot the cheapest bullets that will do the job. For them a box of cartridges is an expense.
The other secretarial order was for all departments to facilitate expanded access and opportunities for hunting, with a lot more specifics here. Dept of Int Order 3347. After department heads report back to him on how best to expand opportunities Zinke will forward the report to the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council an official advisory board to the Dept of Int for suggestions on how best to implement. I’ve written on that council before but am lazy to find it.
Youza! I’ll have lots to write about. Some of the parts of 3347 I like, and others I like a whole bunch.