Just a word of caution to everyone who shoots in their basement or barn. I'm surprised this happened considering how many inspections etc. those ranges get.
Jeff
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...&Headline=Police+firing+range+may+reopen+soon
Police firing range may reopen soon
By Trisha Howard
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/21/2004
Illinois State Police District 11 in Collinsville hopes to reopen its indoor firing range this month after shutting it down for four months because of lead contamination.
The lead was a byproduct of officers firing rounds at the range, said Master Sgt. Rick Hector, a spokesman for the State Police. In addition to the State Police, several area departments send their officers to the indoor range to practice their shooting skills.
The agency discovered high levels of lead contamination after the officer in charge of the firing range fell sick in March, Hector said. Tests showed an elevated level of lead in the man's blood, Hector said.
The officer remains under a doctor's care, Hector said, declining to comment further about the man's condition.
The State Police have spent about $70,000 since March to clean up the range, Hector said. The cleanup required contractors to replace many of the special tiles inside the range that provide soundproofing and prevent bullets from ricocheting off the floors, Hector said.
The agency also has set up a maintenance schedule to keep the lead contamination at an acceptable level, Hector said.
"Right now, we hope to have it open sometime in the immediate future," Hector said Wednesday. "We just don't have a date yet."
In the meantime, State Police officers have practiced their shooting skills at police-run firing ranges in O'Fallon, Ill., and Litchfield, Ill.
Reporter Trisha L. Howard
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 618-659-3640
Jeff
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...&Headline=Police+firing+range+may+reopen+soon
Police firing range may reopen soon
By Trisha Howard
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/21/2004
Illinois State Police District 11 in Collinsville hopes to reopen its indoor firing range this month after shutting it down for four months because of lead contamination.
The lead was a byproduct of officers firing rounds at the range, said Master Sgt. Rick Hector, a spokesman for the State Police. In addition to the State Police, several area departments send their officers to the indoor range to practice their shooting skills.
The agency discovered high levels of lead contamination after the officer in charge of the firing range fell sick in March, Hector said. Tests showed an elevated level of lead in the man's blood, Hector said.
The officer remains under a doctor's care, Hector said, declining to comment further about the man's condition.
The State Police have spent about $70,000 since March to clean up the range, Hector said. The cleanup required contractors to replace many of the special tiles inside the range that provide soundproofing and prevent bullets from ricocheting off the floors, Hector said.
The agency also has set up a maintenance schedule to keep the lead contamination at an acceptable level, Hector said.
"Right now, we hope to have it open sometime in the immediate future," Hector said Wednesday. "We just don't have a date yet."
In the meantime, State Police officers have practiced their shooting skills at police-run firing ranges in O'Fallon, Ill., and Litchfield, Ill.
Reporter Trisha L. Howard
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 618-659-3640
