"Prescient" may have been the right word for Winchester, Brent. Google listed SI article in 2001 under section Vault:

"In 1976 the Fish and Wildlife Service took the first steps toward phasing out lead shot by designating steel-shot-only hunting zones for wildfowl---areas in which lead poisoning was causing the greatest damage." Further on, "In five consecutive court decisions since 1976---two federal and three state---justices have upheld steel-shot regulations."