RANGE: Armed to make it better

Three recent articles in the Coeur d’Alene Press and the Spokesman Review have highlighted the trash problems at the traditional shooting range in the gravel pit just north of Hayden Lake along FSR 437.

Inconsiderate shooters at this and other locations in the forest are leaving their shooting debris and spent shell cartridges at the shooting sites. The amount of debris is not just significant, it is massive. Worse, appliances such as television sets and compact fluorescent lights are among the targets. Shooting these targets releases heavy metals and other toxic substances to the environment. Under federal hazardous materials law, the Forest Service cannot permit such activities to continue. The Forest Service has threatened to close the facility by closing off access, presumably by gating FSR 437 at both ends. If the situation persists, the Forest Service will have little choice in the matter given its meager personnel resources.

Since late April, at least four separate groups have cleaned up debris at this site. These efforts have resulted in large volumes of wastes being carted away and disposed of properly. The cleanup efforts by these groups are laudable and a big improvement. However, such efforts must be sustained, since the volume of debris consistently demonstrates that many users are failing to get the message that these wastes could seriously impair the watershed.

There is a more permanent solution to this dilemma which would allow this facility to remain open to the sport shooting public, but the facility would manage to curb the excesses of some of the participants. Cross-country skiers manage the Fourth of July Trail system under a special use permit with the Forest Service. The snowmobile clubs, trail riders and Backcountry Horsemen have similar special use permit relationships with the Forest Service for the facilities they maintain, as do other nonprofit public service groups.

A sport shooting group should step up to manage this facility in cooperation with the Forest Service under a special use permit. There would be rules, such as regular shooting hours, a limit on targets, and requirements to pick up and dispose of properly the cartridges and targets after shooting is completed. Some presence at the site would be required and yes, the group would likely be required to clean up and repair facilities after those few outlaws, who are unwilling to cooperate for the benefit of all, use the area. Such management will require a commitment, but likely no more than the skiers, snowmobile operators, horsemen, trail riders and others take on to ensure an opportunity for their participating in their respective sports in the National Forest. The alternative is a closure of access to the facility, in which case everybody loses out.

GEOFF HARVEY

Kootenai County