Shooting Range Linked to Lead Pollution in Forbes State Forest Creek
A shooting range in Forbes State Forest, Pennsylvania, owned by Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting, has been identified as the source of lead pollution in Blue Hole Creek. The contamination, stemming from spent ammunition, has significantly degraded the stream's water…
Harrisburg Lancaster Lebanon York, PA, November 8, 2026 — A shooting range located within Forbes State Forest in Pennsylvania has been identified as the primary source of lead pollution affecting Blue Hole Creek. The property is reportedly owned by Bob Nutting, the owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.
Investigations have determined that spent ammunition from the range is leaching lead into the environment. This contamination has led to a significant degradation of the water quality in Blue Hole Creek. The extent of the pollution and specific timelines for its impact are not detailed in the available information.
The presence of lead in waterways can pose serious environmental and health risks. Lead is a toxic heavy metal that can harm aquatic life and can enter the food chain. While the summary indicates the contamination stems from spent ammunition, further details regarding the specific amounts of lead discharged, the duration of the pollution, or any remediation efforts are not provided.
The summary does not specify the date of the identification of the shooting range as the source of pollution, nor does it detail the process by which this conclusion was reached. Information regarding any regulatory oversight, environmental impact assessments, or potential actions being taken by authorities or the property owner is also not included in the provided details.
Blue Hole Creek is a natural waterway within Forbes State Forest, a public land area in Pennsylvania. The pollution originating from the private shooting range raises concerns about the impact of recreational activities on protected natural environments. Details regarding the ownership structure of the shooting range beyond Bob Nutting’s reported ownership and the specific operational status of the range were not made available.
The direct consequences of the degraded water quality on the local ecosystem or nearby communities are not elaborated upon in the provided summary. Furthermore, information regarding any permits associated with the shooting range’s operations or its compliance with environmental regulations was not disclosed. The outcome of any inspections or reports on code violations or fines related to this pollution event were also not provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Reid Frazier, Allegheny Front on www.witf.org, see more information here.
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