Dear editor,
In response to a letter from Bruce Tegart in your Jan. 26 paper:
The studies and tests were done several times to address all of the mentioned concerns and the results showed that there would be no lead contamination concerning waterways or wildlife. The shot used for sporting clay and skeet are not the same as hunting shells.
The studies you speak of are not from “ranges” of this nature. What you failed to recognize is that this beautiful and private land would soon be accessible to people utilizing the facility which is much more than a “shotgun range”.
What you also need to mention is that while the traffic would increase, it would perhaps stimulate the economy of each and every town you listed in your letter: restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores and lodging.
The noise in the area may even be less, as much of the recreational trespassers with their off-road vehicles would no longer have access. This facility would create jobs, family recreation as well as community bonding.
Please, if you are to put up the chance for others to protest, at least provide the link that was on the county website that shows how much hard work and research was done at the owners cost to reassure and educate the concerned locals.
(Editor’s note: for readers who are curious and have online access, the Environmental Impact Assessment-Kloovenburg Sports group final draft report is available at the following address on Leduc County’s website: http://www.leduc-county.com/public/download/documents/36770)
Jeff Coates, County of Wetaskiwin