Now for my good friend, Scott E.
Admit it, you have as much of a lead addiction as most of us.
(I alone own more than 50 spinnerbaits costing $1.50-$3.00. )
Who among us is willing to throw their stash away. Certainly not Wandy and certainly not you! But if the state has it's way, it will force anglers to break the law if the following occurs:
Frank
First off it would not happen, be a bit more realistic and I do not dispose of them in the trash, I do have a 1oz and 2oz sinker mold, I have a small pot in the shed that I have some old lead in, some old wheel weights and old sinkers to be melted down into new sinkers....
Actually Scott, I need a dump truck to cart all my old jigheads, spinnerbaits and unsusable sinkers to the Wallkill so that I can cause an environmental disaster! As for batteries, I still have 2 dead ones that I'm to lazy to get a $5 refund for, at Wal Mart. Who the h*** takes their old lead to a hazardous waste site anyway. What are you smoking ?? (Not even Wandy!)Since you bring up the subject of disposal of lead, where do you dispose of yours, what about cadmium batteries and mercury thermometers, maybe you should be thinking of that, for years most of Orange Co.'s trash went to the Al Turi Landfill, of course that is now closed for about a month or so, and since it is located along the banks of the Walkill think about what you have been sending right back to yourself living down stream in Walden.
I also did not say I was totally for the fishing lead ban, I think there was some bad intent on the side of the sponsors of the bill that is now law,...Although I did say I sided with Wandy it was on the subject of the environment not the sinker ban, I think the ban has less to do with the environment and more to do with a couple of LI politicians whos allegiances are not with the sportsmen but more with the animal rights groups....
Scott, you can't have it both ways. You either agree with Wandy's position or you don't. (Confuscius say: Sitting on fence only result in sore anus!!) This is evident because you quote the following facts:Wandy, I am on your side, I have fought this fight many times and there is always someone who feels the environment is fine and needs no help from us, trust me you are fighting the good fight and you may not change Franks mind but you maybe reaching someone not so vocal on these forums.
From 1972 to 1999 a total of 105 loons died in NY, that on average is less than 4 loons a year die, 21% of those 105 loons died of lead poisoning, which means about 1 loon a year dies of lead poisoning.
Also remember lead does not oxidize or leach under normal conditions and in normal water Ph, most of our lakes have a neutral Ph 7.0 to 7.5, lead starts to break down at a Ph higher than 8.5 which is an alkali, such as sodium hydroxide or caustic soda, or lower than 6.5 which is a weak acid like muriatic or citric, both high enough to give you a mild chemical burn.
(The fishing reg.s handbook points out lead alternatives.)In 1994 and then again in 1995 this bill reached our representatives in Albany it did not pass, then in 2001 and 2002 it came around again, please read through the bill I am sure you will see one reason I believe animal rights groups were behind this, also did any of you recieve any fishing sinker education by the NYSDEC, I bet not
Admit it, you have as much of a lead addiction as most of us.
(I alone own more than 50 spinnerbaits costing $1.50-$3.00. )
Who among us is willing to throw their stash away. Certainly not Wandy and certainly not you! But if the state has it's way, it will force anglers to break the law if the following occurs:
Your points are valid and, I believe, what this whole post is all about. The statistics and DEC information you provide should make everyone think about the possibilities that may be coming that have nothing to do with the environment and all to do with further controlling the sport of fishing.If it is found that the education and outreach program has not been successful the department is authorized and shall develop rules and regulations banning the use of lead fishing sinkers and jigheads.
Frank