[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 189 (Friday, September 27, 1996)] [Notices] [Page 50862] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-24816] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Application for Approval of Tungsten-Iron Shot as Nontoxic for Waterfowl Hunting AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of application. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that Federal Cartridge Company (Federal) Anoka, Minnesota, has applied for approval of tungsten-iron shot for waterfowl hunting in the United States. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul R. Schmidt, Chief, or Cyndi Perry, Wildlife Biologist, Office of Migratory Bird Management (MBMO), (703) 358-1714. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the mid-1970s, the Service has sought to identify shot that, when spent, does not pose a significant toxic hazard to migratory birds and other wildlife. Currently, only bismuth- tin shot, on a conditional basis, and steel shot are approved by the Service as nontoxic. The Service believes approval for other suitable candidate shot materials as nontoxic is feasible. The Service is eager to consider these other materials for approval as nontoxic shot. Federal submits their application for approval of tungsten-iron shot as nontoxic pursuant to Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR part 20.134, Migratory Bird Hunting: Nontoxic Shot Approval Procedures. The Service believes the candidate material shows promise and will consider the application. Federals' candidate shot is made from sintering tungsten and iron, which together forms a two phase alloy. Shot made from this material has a density of approximately 10.3 gm/cc or 94 percent of the density of lead. The shot will contain nominally 55 percent by weight of tungsten and 45 percent by weight of iron. The pellet will have sufficient iron to attract a magnet. Federals' application includes a description of the new shot, a toxicological report on the tungsten-iron shot, and a 30-day test to assess the toxicity of this shot in game-farm mallards. The toxicological report incorporates toxicity information - a synopsis of acute and chronic toxicity data for birds, acute effects, potential for environmental concern, toxicity to aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles; and information on environmental fate and transport - shot and/or shot coating alteration, environmental half-life, and environmental concentration. The toxicity study reveled no adverse effects when mallards were dosed with 8 BB size tungsten-iron shot and monitored over a 30-day period. References Barr Engineering Company. 1996. Toxicology Report on New Shot. Contract Report 2302118/40970-1/CET. 21 pp. Bursian, S.J.,M.E. Kelly, R.J. Aulerich, D.C. Powell, and S. Fitzgerald. 1996. Thirty-Day Dosing Test to Assess the Toxicity of Tungsten-Iron Shot in Game-Farm Mallards. 1996. Report to Federal Cartridge Co. 77 pp. Authorship The primary author of this notice of application is Cynthia M. Perry, Office of Migratory Bird Management. Dated: September 20, 1996. Carolyn A. Bohan, Acting Assistant Director for Refuges and Wildlife. [FR Doc. 96-24816 Filed 9-26-96; 8:45 am] Billing Code 4310-55-F