Shooting Range Owned By Pirates Owner Cited For Environmental Violation

SOMERSET, PA — He doesn't just damage a baseball franchise. Reviled Pirates owner Bob Nutting also damages the environment, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Blue Hole Creek, used for swimming and fishing, has high levels of lead and other metals, WTAJ-TV in Johnstown reported. The department placed the blame for that on a shooting range owned by Nutting. Those metals include high levels of aluminum, cadmium, lead, managanes and zinc in the creek.

The creek also is used by hikers in the Laurel Highlands to fill their water supply, the station reported.

The environmental protection department considers the Highland Sporting Clays responsible for the contamination. The shooting range is run by the Nutting-owned Highland Ventures LLC.

According to the Highlands Ventures website, the company is focused on hospitality including but not limited to dining, golf and sporting clays. Highlands Ventures also concentrates on real estate brokerage in the Laurel Highlands.

Highlands Ventures operates:

• Highlands Resort Realty, a residential and commercial brokerage.
• Highlands Sporting Clays, “Golf with a shotgun."
• Highlands Golf Club at Seven Springs.
• Highlands Golf Club at Hidden Valley.
• Highlands Market, a boutique country market offering local artisan products.