Spring 2004
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The U.S. Army Environmental Center recently joined forces with the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC) to develop guidelines to minimize lead transport and support improved management of small arms ranges.

The cooperative effort between the USAEC and the ITRC will compile all of the testing and technology information gathered over a decade by the Department of Defense and private industry regarding outdoor small arms ranges. The venture uses experience with the Army's 2,200 small arms firing ranges and ITRC's abilities as an environmental technology transfer engine. The effort will result in a training document, Environmental Management Planning Using Best Management Practices at Active Outdoor Small Arms Firing Ranges, and training seminars.

The training document and seminars will cover both DoD and private small arms ranges. The document will help small arms ranges assess the operations of their range managers and identify environmental issues concerning each individual location. Training will focus on both the method of developing site-specific environmental management plans for small arms ranges (which techniques to choose), as well as how to follow up and evaluate the success of those management strategies in the future.

The training will be open to the regulatory community, and DoD and private range managers. The document will be distributed throughout all branches of the Department of Defense; federal, state, and local law enforcement and their consultants; and public and private gun clubs, creating a uniform set of guidelines. Project participants expect that the program's uniformity and its suggested technologies will greatly reduce the possibility of environmental and occupational health problems during range operation and maintenance.

ITRC, a national coalition, includes representatives from 40 states, three federal agencies (including DoD), and public and industry interests. The ITRC traditionally focuses on implementation, testing and transfer of new environmental technologies to its member states.

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