[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]


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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.

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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