[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60897-60898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26934]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

50 CFR Part 20


Migratory Bird Hunting; Application for Approval of Hevi-Steel as 
a Nontoxic Shot Material for Waterfowl Hunting

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is providing 
public notification that ENVIRON-Metal, Inc. of Sweet Home, Oregon, has 
applied for approval of HEVI-Steel shot as nontoxic for waterfowl 
hunting in the United States. The Service has initiated review of Hevi 
Steel under the criteria set out in Tier 1 of the nontoxic shot 
approval procedures.

DATES: A comprehensive review of the Tier 1 information is to be 
concluded by December 23, 2003.

ADDRESSES: ENVIRON-Metal's application may be reviewed in Room 4091 at 
the Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, 
4501 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 22203-1610. Comments on 
this notice may be submitted to the Division of Migratory Bird 
Management at 4401 North Fairfax Drive, MS MBSP-4107Arlington, VA 
22203-1610. Comments will become part of the Administrative Record for 
the review of

[[Page 60898]]

the application. The public may review comments at Room 4091 at the 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Migratory Bird Management, 4501 
North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 22203-1610.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Millsap, Chief, Division of 
Migratory Bird Management, (703) 358-1714, or John J. Kreilich, Jr., 
Wildlife Biologist, Division of Migratory Bird Management, (703) 358-
1928.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (Act) 
(16 U.S.C. 703-712 and 16 U.S.C. 742 a-j) implements migratory bird 
treaties between the United States and Great Britain for Canada (1916 
and 1996 as amended), Mexico (1936 and 1972 as amended), Japan (1972 
and 1974 as amended), and Russia (then the Soviet Union, 1978). These 
treaties protect certain migratory birds from take, except as permitted 
under the Act. The Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
regulate take of migratory birds in the United States. Under this 
authority, the Fish and Wildlife Service controls the hunting of 
migratory game birds through regulations in 50 CFR part 20.
    Since the mid-1970s, the Service has sought to identify types of 
shot for waterfowling that, when spent, do not pose a significant toxic 
hazard to migratory birds and other wildlife when ingested. We have 
approved several types of shot as nontoxic and added them to the 
migratory bird hunting regulations in 50 CFR 20.21. We believe that 
compliance with the use of nontoxic shot will continue to increase with 
the approval and availability of other nontoxic shot types. Therefore, 
we continue to provide producers of shot with the opportunity to submit 
for approval alternative types of nontoxic shot.
    ENVIRON-Metal, Inc. has submitted its application with the counsel 
that it contained all of the specified information for a complete Tier 
1 submittal, and has requested unconditional approval pursuant to the 
Tier 1 time frame. We have determined that the application is complete, 
and have initiated a comprehensive review of the Tier 1 information. 
After the review, we will either publish a Notice of Review to inform 
the public that the Tier 1 test results are inconclusive or publish a 
proposed rule for approval of the candidate shot. If the Tier 1 tests 
are inconclusive, the Notice of Review will indicate what other tests 
will be required before approval of the HEVI-Steel shot as nontoxic is 
again considered. If the Tier 1 data review results in a preliminary 
determination that the candidate material does not pose a significant 
hazard to migratory birds, other wildlife, or their habitats, the 
Service will commence with a rulemaking proposing to approve the 
candidate shot.

    Dated: October 10, 2003.
Matt Hogan,
Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 03-26934 Filed 10-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P