The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will hold a public workshop Tuesday, August 12 to discuss the implementation of the lead bullet ban. The workshop will be held at the Department of General Services Building at 2550 Mariposa Mall in Fresno from 7-8:30p.m.

A CDFW representative will detail a proposed implementation plan, the PowerPoint is available on the CDFW website. Following the short presentation, interested parties can make comments and provide input that will help shape CDFW's final recommendation to the Fish and Game Commission, which CDFW anticipates presenting at the Commission's meeting in Sacramento in September.

Last year, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 711 requiring that the Commission adopt a regulation to ban lead ammunition 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 now a series of public workshops throughout the state. A public workshop was held in Ventura in April, Eureka in June and Redding in July. Others are planned in Sacramento on July 29 and San Diego on August 5. After Fresno, planning is underway for a workshop in Rancho Cucamonga. In addition, individuals and organizations may email comments to wildlifemgmt@wildlife.ca.gov (please use "Nonlead implementation" in the subject line) or mail hard copy correspondence to:

CDFW, Wildlife Branch
Attn: Nonlead implementation
1812 9th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811