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RELOCATION
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We are currently in the process of
relocation. Our criteria for relocation
is to identify a piece of property
near Merced with land that would not
be affected by the addition of lead
(We do contract for lead reclaim as
needed). We concentrated our searches
on former dumpsites as any lead tainting
would not affect the site and our
project would in actuality reclaim
the land for civic use. As such, we
have identified a piece of Merced
City property not currently in use
that may fit our needs. This approximately
247-acre parcel is located on the
northwest side of the Citys Water
Treatment facility on Gove Road encompassing
the former dumpsite and its adjacent
vacant drying ponds. We do not intend
to build directly on top of the former
burn-dump, just adjacent to it. As
drying ponds are already contaminated
with over 60,000 toxic substances
and chemical substances (as per the
Worldwatch Institute: "Recycling
Organic Waste), any application that
this facility might propose will not
contribute further contamination.
This site fits our needs as it is
already contaminated from the dump
site and as drying ponds for the water
treatment facility, a rural location
without adjacent housing, is easy
to find by people from outside the
area, and lends itself well to our
redevelopment efforts.
The
undertaking Merced Fish & Game,
Inc. is proposing will be a professionally
designed project consisting of:
40 Trap fields, 12 of which will
be overlaid with Skeet fields,
A sporting clays course in future
plans,
A meeting house,
A registration building,
Several bathroom facilities,
The California Waterfowl Association
Museum,
RV parking with full hook-ups,
Additional RV parking,
Several storage facilities,
One workshop,
One pre-manufactured home for the
resident manager,
General parking for additional vehicles.
We
will also incorporate our annual Pheasant
Hunt (run by the California Department
of Fish & Game) on adjacent City
owned property, into the project.
The purpose of this State-run hunt
will allow children and adults that
would not otherwise be able to hunt
the opportunity to hunt pheasants
in a controlled environment.
SUPPORT
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This entire effort will be a multi-million
dollar project that will be funded
with Federal and State Grants, funds
from the California Golden State Trap
Association relocation fund, donations
from Regional and National organizations,
and private donations. We currently
have engineers, landscapers, and other
professional organizations at our
disposal for the development of this
site. There will be no City or County
of Merced dollars involved in the
development of this project.
Support
for this project is being sought and
is rapidly coming in from all sectors:
State
Assembly Members
Amateur Trap Association
California Department of Fish &
Game
Wildlife Conservation Board, State
of California
Pacific International Trap Association
National Rifle Association
California Waterfowl Association
National Resource Conservation Service
(US Department of Agriculture)
Ducks Unlimited
Grasslands Resource Conservation District
Grasslands Water District
The Integrated Waste Management Board
has approved the use of the contaminated
area for the construction of a clay
target facility. The State Water Resources
Control Board also supports this endeavor.
No
other facility of this kind has ever
had the advantages that are being
utilized by this project. Through
their affiliation with the California
Natural Resource Foundation, a charitable
foundation, all donations will be
tax deductible. With the caliber of
the people that a trap facility such
as this will incur, the donations
for its construction should cover
all the required buildings and fixed
improvements.
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Amateur
Trapshooting Association of America
601 West National Road
Vandalia, Ohio 45377
National
Shooting Sports Foundation
11 Mile Hill Road
Newtown, Conn. 06470-2359
This agency has offered its support,
both financially and through design
and its membership, toward the development
of this facility.
California
Golden State Trap Association
Merced Fish & Game, Inc. will
be working in coordination with the
California Golden State Trap Association
to solicit membership donations. In
their past effort at the Castle Air
Base, they were able to solicit enough
donations to cover all the trap houses
and the buildings. We intend to utilize
these contacts to garner additional
support for the State Home Club.
Paralyzed
American Veterans
This agency has pledged its support
and cooperation in the development
of this facility. This support ranges
from basic design to the utilization
of its political affiliations and
membership roles. They are also interested
in holding handicapped shoots here
once the facility is operational.
National
Rifle Association
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Although
most support has come in conversations
with individuals and agencies, actual
written Letters of Support are attached.
Grants:
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In all cases, Grant recipients must
have control over the project site.
Without control, such as a long-term
lease, grant-funding agencies will
not consider the application for grant
monies. The following are a few of
the agencies that are geared toward
funding for projects such as the one
being proposed here:
Department
of Education
Recreation Programs
Range of awards $120,000-$140,000
Department
of Education
Rehabilitation Act Grant
600 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4725
Grants made to new projects for Disabled
on ongoing basis.
Up to $500,000 for up to 3-5 years
post assistance
California
Wildlife Conservation Board
801 K Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Grant Awards: $500,000+
Environmental
Protection Agency
Brownfields Assessment Demonstration
Pilots
These funds provide for the redevelopment
of Brownfield sites where private
developers and financiers are not
able or willing to act on their own.
This funding source provides significant
funds for these areas at specific
times of year.
US
Fish and Wildlife Service, Region
1
Division of Federal Aid
911 NE 11th
Portland, Oregon 97232-4181
Some funds from the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Program are earmarked
to develop hunter education training
facilities and public target ranges.
States are encouraged to provide these
funds through grants to third parties.
Funds are available through:
California
Department of Fish and Game.
PO Box 944209
Sacramento, California 94244-2090
ECONOMIC
BENEFITS
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This project will generate extensive
sales tax revenue as well as employment
opportunities for Merced County residents.
The annual California State Trap Shoot
has been held in Kingsburg for decades
and will be moved to the Merced site
when the range is complete. This annual
shoot consists of over 700 shooters
and has been generating approximately
$1,000,000 in sales revenue for the
Kingsburg area over the 8-day period.
We are also anticipating the relocation
of the Annual State Skeet Shoot to
the Merced Range. Other Trap and Skeet
Shoots that are anticipated for this
site include:
The Zone Trap Shoot (500 shooters)
A Satellite Grand Trap Shoot (750
shooters)
The Ducks Unlimited State Trap Shoot
(250 shooters)
The California Waterfowl State Trap
Shoot (300 shooters)
Monthly ATA and PITA Trap Shoots
(100+ shooters each weekend)
League Trap and Skeet Shoots (100+
shooters at each event)
The NorCal State Skeet Shoot (500
shooters)
Possibly the World Skeet Shoot (750
shooters)
*The number of shooters is approximate
and based upon historical trends.
Sporting
Clays will also add tremendous attendance
as these are attended on a regular
basis and also offer sanctioned shoots.
These shoots will generate significant
use of motels, restaurants, grocery
store, gasoline stations, and other
retail establishments in Merced.
We
will employ up to 120 local individuals
for large shoots, 10 full-time positions,
and up to 35 additional individuals
for smaller shoots. A full-time on-site
manager who shall reside in a modular
home on the property will manage these
positions. Our estimated timeframes
are for the project to begin in September
1999 with completion in May 2000.
The
Amateur Trapshooting Association,
a nationwide shooting organization
consisting of over 50,000 members,
also sponsors University Shoots. These
events allow Universities the ability
to compete nationally in trap, skeet
and sporting clays competition. It
is anticipated that this will allow
the UC Merced to expand its curriculum
through the utilization of our facilities.
We intend to offer the use of our
facilities to the University and,
as a non-profit organization, to subsidize
a scholarship program.
The
Grand American Trap Shoot in Vandalia,
Ohio reflects the economic and social
potential that a trap shoot can bring
into a community. This trap shoot
demonstrates the potential of a large
shooting facility. The amount the
Grand American brings into the Vandalia
area is around $10,000,000 over a
two-week period, with the event held
only once per year. This is the result
of about 6,000 shooters. The size
of the shoots that the new Merced
clay sporting facility will host will
be around 800-1,000 shooters. The
distinction with the Merced facility
is that the facility will start off
with 5-6 major shoots per year and
will escalate to 12 major shoots annually
over a five-year period. We will also
host weekly sanctioned shoots once
the facility is up and running.
Carl
Reynolds, a Director of the California
Golden State Trap Association, has
stated that the annual State Trap
Shoot brings in the greater Kingsburg
area more than $1,000,000 each year.
When you take into account the possibility
of 12 shoots of this size each year
and factor in the multiplier, which
is set for each county by the US Department
of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis,
we hope you will appreciate that this
proposed project is a win-win situation
for the city and county of Merced.
This
project is a positive step for the
City and County of Merced. The City
will generate tax revenue from significantly
increased sales tax from the thousands
attending shooters, jobs will be created,
land contaminated by the dumpsite
will be reclaimed for useful purposes,
and individuals that may never have
come to Merced will become very familiar
with what it has to offer. Proper
advertising of future Merced events
will entice attendees to Merced Fish
& Game, Inc. events to return
to Merced on occasions other than
shooting events. As a non-profit organization,
the facilities being built will enable
us to donate large amounts of time
and money to the community.
There
have been a number of questions raised
by the City officials and the City
Council, which we will address here.
The following are the answers to these
questions.
1. Lead contamination:
98% of the lead is easily recovered
through proven traditional mining.
As lead is an inert mineral, it does
not contaminate the soil unless abraded.
Also adding to its stability is the
fact that the lead shot that is dispensed
by clay target shooters is not pure
lead but is mixed with tin for hardness
and chilled making it even more stable
and environmentally sound. In a letter
from the Integrated Waste Management
Board to the City of Merced dated
September 22, 1998 they stated in
paragraph 2 "Lead associated
with the activities should not impact
the immediate site concentrations".
2. Health Department:
Merced County Health Department has
determined that there is no danger
to public health through our use of
the site. This was originally discussed
with Jeff Paalsgard and confirmed
via the Integrated Waste Management
Board through Hassan Golbad, also
of the Merced County Public Health
Department.
3. Containing Shot:
The site will be designed to contain
all the lead shot on the grounds.
At no point will lead shot fall on
a road or on adjoining property. The
layout we have provided shows the
care that has been taken to ensure
that all the shot dispensed at the
facility remains within an area that
allows us to mine the shot. With size
7 1/2 shot being the predominant shot
size, this shot loaded with 3 drams
of powder can not travel over 625
feet. We have added at least a 200+
foot barrier as our bare minimum distance
for safety and to contain the lead.
4. Entrance to Facility:
The entrance to the facility will
be two-fold to maximize the distribution
of traffic on any one road. The first
entrance will utilize Gove Road and
will enter the proposed facility on
the West Side of the Eucalyptus trees
behind the police shooting range.
The second potential path will come
also from the West side as a private
road from El Capitan Road. The second
path will require a culvert to channel
the Hartley Drain Ditch. A meeting
with the County Planning Department
revealed that this is a feasible solution
and would have to meet County Roads
Department specifications.
5. Dump Integrity:
There was some concern that we would
be violating the integrity of the
existing cap on the burn dumpsite.
Our plans only call for a grass park
to inhabit the actual dumpsite. There
will be no breach of the cap for any
purpose.
6. Trap grounds in City Limits:
As there are already a number of trap
sites located within city limits,
this is not a new endeavor. The ATA
home grounds are located within on
the Dayton International Airport grounds.
Just in the state of California, there
are also 6 trap ranges located on
city property and 2 on active military
facilities. Outside of the State of
California, the list of clay ranges
located within city limits is endless.
There are even a few owned by the
actual city in which they reside.
7. Water: Water for
the facility will come from more than
once source. The first source will
be runoff water from the wastewater
treatment plant that will be used
expressly for irrigation. The second
source will come from water from a
deep well that will be used for drinking.
We have met with Ed Mitchell of Mitchell
Drilling and he assures us that we
can have a well dug that will provide
pollution free water. There are also
several other alternatives such as
a water treatment system or the buying
of purified water in bulk or in bottles
that will fit our needs.
8. Parking: The engineering
plan we have developed shows adequate
RV parking (300 RV's) as well as basically
unlimited parking that will be developed
to the northwest of the Eucalyptus
trees.
9. Fire Suppression:
We will be provided direction from
the City Fire Department in the best
management techniques for fire suppression.
This will be incorporated into our
design as we progress. In order to
deal with the Eucalyptus trees, already
addressed as the major fire suppression
obstacle, we have met with the Boy
Scouts of America and they will be
helping with the clearing of Eucalyptus
trees and debris. This will serve
three purposes:
The Boy Scouts will use this as
fund raising effort as they will be
given all the wood removed from the
site. This will also provide the scouts
with the ability to earn additional
badges and experience.
The debris and select trees will
be removed to reduce the fire hazard
as per direction from the Fire Department.
The area will then be developed
for RV parking, small vehicle parking,
the construction of the main meeting
facility, and the construction of
the California Waterfowl Association
Museum.
10.
Multiplex Property: There
was some discussion that the habitat
area known as the Multiplex was contracted
with the California Department of
Fish & Game. There is no written
agreement on this land with the Department
of Fish & Game. Further research
has also shown that this area was
originally planted by Merced Fish
& Game, Inc. using corp. funds.
This area can also be mitigated if
necessary.
11.
Indemnity/Insurance: Although
we have not been required to have
this type of insurance for the past
51 years that we have inhabited the
airport property, we have researched
this item and found that insurance
of this sort is available. We can
also provide indemnification to the
City as part of the lease which is
standard practice. A sample of the
wording that we can place in the lease
is as follows:
INDEMNITY
HOLD HARMLESS
Merced Fish & Game, Inc. will
defend, indemnify, and hold harmless
the City of Merced, its agents, officers
and employees against all suits and
claims that may be based on injury
to persons or property that is the
result of an error, omission or negligent
act of Merced Fish & Game, Inc.
and its officers, agents, or employees
in the performance of this contract.
The City of Merced will defend, indemnify,
and hold harmless Merced Fish &
Game, Inc., its agents, officers,
and employees against all suits and
claims that may be based on an injury
to persons or property that is the
result of an error, omission, or negligent
acts of the City of Merced and its
officers, agents, or employees in
the performance of this contract.
12.
Funding: There are numerous
funding sources that are established
to provide funding for this type of
project. We have been in contact with
10 different agencies that have grants
available for the development and
maintenance of clay facilities. However
we cannot apply for these funds until
we have secured a long-term lease.
There will be no City or County funds
involved in this project.
13.
In conclusion, we
are requesting a favorable consideration
of our application for a long-term
lease for the construction of the
finest trap and skeet range in the
western United States. This is a win-win
situation for the City and County
and people of Merced. Merced will
have a multi-million dollar facility,
paid for with outside funds that will
generate significant tax revenues
through the tourists dollars that
it brings into the community on a
continual basis. Rather than being
an occasional seasonal type of tourist
attraction, this facility will provide
a stable income throughout the year
at a level not currently seen in Merced.
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