The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will hold a public workshop to discuss phasing out lead ammunition for hunting in a way that is least disruptive to hunters. The workshop will be held on Saturday, October 25 at Richmond Elementary School, 700-585 Richmond Road East, Susanville, CA 96130 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

A CDFW representative will detail the proposed implementation plan, which is summarized on the CDFW website. Following the short presentation, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and discuss opportunities for public input during the Fish and Game Commission's regulatory approval process.

Last year, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 711 requiring that the Commission adopt a regulation to phase out lead ammunition for hunting in the state no later than July 1, 2015, with full implementation of the ban to occur no later than July 1, 2019. Governor Brown has directed CDFW and the Commission to work with all interested parties in order to produce a regulation that is least disruptive to the hunting community.

In order to determine what is least disruptive to hunters, CDFW has been reaching out to interested parties this year in a number of ways, including question and answer sessions at sportsmen's shows, meetings with hunting organizations and a series of public workshops throughout the state. Workshops were held in Ventura in April, Eureka in June, and Redding and Sacramento in July, San Diego, Fresno and Rancho Cucamonga in August. CDFW presented its draft regulations, as modified by public input from these workshops, to the Commission's Wildlife Resources Committee on September 17 in Sacramento. Interested, individuals and organizations may email comments to the Fish and Game Commission at fgc@fgc.ca.gov (please use "Nonlead Implementation" in the subject line) or mail hard copy correspondence to:

California Fish and Game Commission
P.O. Box 944209
Sacramento, CA 94244-2090

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 654-9937