Pursuant to 40 CFR 302.6, any person in charge of an onshore facility shall, as soon as he or she has knowledge of any release of a hazardous substance from a facility in a quantity equal to or exceeding the reportable quantity (RQ) in any 24-hour period, immediately notify the National Response Center (NRC). Must the NRC be notified of releases of lead that result from firing bullets at shooting ranges?

EPA has established by regulation that notification of a release of an RQ of solid particles of lead metal is not necessary if the diameter of the lead metal particles released is greater than 100 micrometers. However, if sport shooting activities result in the release of ten pounds or more of lead metal with a particle size less than 100 micrometers into the environment, the release must be reported immediately to the NRC and to state and local authorities. (58 FR 35314, 35320; June 30, 1993)