[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 143 (Monday, July 27, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40074-40077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19890]
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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 20
RIN 1018-AE66
Migratory Bird Hunting; Temporary Approval of Tungsten-Polymer
Shot as Nontoxic for the 1998-99 Season
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to amend
Section 20.21(j) and provide temporary approval of tungsten-polymer
shot as nontoxic for the 1998-99 migratory bird hunting season, except
in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta, Alaska. A toxicological report
includes an extensive literature review, and analysis of tungsten and
Nylon 6 (the polymer) suggests that these compounds are nontoxic under
assumed use and in the environment. The toxicity study reveals no
adverse effects over a 30-day period on mallards (Anas platyrhynchus)
dosed with 8 BB-size tungsten-polymer shot. However, there is some
concern that the absorption of tungsten into the femur, kidney, and
liver could potentially affect the spectacled eider (Somateria
fischeri), a species already subject to adverse weather, predation, and
lead poisoning on the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta, Alaska. Until a
reproductive/chronic toxicity test has been completed and the Service
has reviewed the results, the Service proposes not to approve the use
of tungsten-polymer shot on the Y-K Delta.
DATES: Comments on the proposed rule must be received no later than
August 26, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent to the Chief, Office of Migratory Bird
Management (MBMO), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1849 C Street, NW.,
ms 634-ARLSQ, Washington, DC 20240. The public may inspect comments
during normal business hours in room 634, Arlington Square Building,
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul R. Schmidt, Chief, Office of
Migratory Bird Management, (703) 358-1714.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the mid-1970s, the Service has sought
to identify shot that does not pose a significant toxic hazard to
migratory birds or other wildlife. Currently, only steel and bismuth-
tin shot are approved by the Service as nontoxic. The Service
previously granted temporary approval
[[Page 40075]]
for bismuth-tin on two separate actions for the hunting seasons of
1994-95 and 1995-96. Tungsten-iron shot was given temporary approval
for the 1997-98 migratory bird hunting season. The Service believes
that approval of other suitable candidate shot materials as nontoxic is
feasible. Compliance with the use of nontoxic shot has increased over
the last few years. The Service believes that compliance will continue
to increase with the approval and availability of other nontoxic shot
types.
Federal Cartridge Company's (Anoka, Minnesota) candidate shot is a
matrix of Nylon 6 or 11 polymer surrounding particles of elemental
tungsten. Shot made from this material has a density of approximately
11.2 g/cm3 or approximately the density of lead. The shot
will contain approximately 95.5 percent tungsten and 4.5 percent Nylon
6 or 11 by weight, plus sufficient iron to attract a magnet.
Federal's application includes a description of the new tungsten-
polymer (TP) shot, a toxicological report (Barr, 1996), and the results
of a 30-day dosing study of the toxicity of this shot in game-farm
mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). The toxicological report incorporates
toxicity information (a synopsis of acute and chronic toxicity data for
mammals and birds, potential for environmental concern, and toxicity to
aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles) and
information on environmental fate and transport (shot alteration,
environmental half-life, and environmental concentration). The toxicity
study is a 30-day dosing test to determine if the candidate shot poses
any deleterious effects to game-farm mallards. This will meet the
requirements for Tier 2 consideration, as described in 50 CFR
20.134(b)(3).
Toxicity Information
There is considerable difference in the toxicity of soluble and
insoluble compounds of tungsten. Elemental tungsten is virtually
insoluble and is, therefore, expected to be relatively nontoxic. The
potential toxicity of nylon compounds due to degradation is primarily
associated with the stabilizers, antioxidants, plasticizers, and
unreacted prepolymers. Residual caprolactum has been found in some
commercial Nylon 6 products, but little concern regarding this compound
has been developed (Patty, 1981). Even though most toxicity tests
reviewed were based on soluble tungsten compounds rather than elemental
tungsten (while the toxicity of Nylon 6 is negligible due to its
insolubility), there appears to be no basis for concern of toxicity to
wildlife for the TP shot (metallic tungsten and Nylon 6) via ingestion
by fish, birds, or mammals (Bursian et al., 1996; Gigiena, 1983; Patty,
1981; Industrial Medicine, 1946; Karantassis, 1924).
Environmental Fate and Transport
Tungsten is insoluble in water and, therefore, not mobile in
hypergenic environments. Tungsten is very stable in acids and does not
easily complex. Preferential uptake by plants in acid soil suggests
that uptake of tungsten in the anionic form is associated with tungsten
minerals rather than elemental tungsten (Kabata-Pendias and Pendias,
1984).
Environmental Concentrations
Calculation of the estimated environmental concentration (EEC) of
tungsten in a terrestrial ecosystem is based on 69,000 shot per hectare
(Pain, 1990), assuming complete erosion of material in 5 cm of soil.
The EECs for tungsten and Nylon 6 in soil are 58.3 mg/kg and 2.7 mg/kg,
respectively. Calculation of the EEC in an aquatic ecosystem assumes
complete erosion of the shot in one cubic foot of water. The EECs in
water for tungsten and Nylon 6 are 18.7 mg/L and 0.9 mg/L,
respectively. The Hazard Quotients assume that complete erosion of the
shot components would occur; however, the TP shot is considered
insoluble and is stable in basic, neutral, and mildly acidic
environments. Therefore, erosion is expected to be minimal, and adverse
effects on biota are not expected to occur.
Effects on Birds
An extensive literature review provided information on the toxicity
of elemental tungsten to waterfowl and other birds. Ringelman et al.
(1993) orally dosed 20 8-week-old game-farm mallards with 12-17 (1.03g)
tungsten-bismuth-tin (TBT) pellets and monitored them for 32 days for
evidence of intoxication. No birds died during the trial, gross lesions
were not observed during the postmortem examination, histopathological
examinations did not reveal any evidence of toxicity or tissue damage,
and tungsten was not detectable in kidney or liver samples. The authors
concluded that TBT shot presented virtually no potential for acute
intoxication in mallards.
Kraabel et al. (1996) assessed the effects of embedded TBT shot on
mallards and concluded that TBT was not acutely toxic when implanted in
muscle tissue. Inflammatory reactions to TBT shot were localized and
had no detectable systemic effects on mallard health.
Nell (1981) fed laying hens (Gallus domesticus) 0.4 or 1 g/kg
tungsten in a commercial mash for five months to assess reproductive
performance. Weekly egg production was normal and hatchability of
fertile eggs was not affected. Exposure of chickens to large doses of
tungsten either through injection or by feeding, resulted in an
increased tissue concentration of tungsten and a decreased
concentration of molybdenum (Nell, 1981). The loss of tungsten from the
liver occurred in an exponential manner with a half-life of 27 hours.
The alterations in molybdenum metabolism seemed to be associated with
tungsten intake rather than molybdenum deficiency. Death due to
tungsten occurred when tissue concentrations increased to 25 mg/g
liver. At that concentration, xanthine dehydrogenase activity was zero.
Nylon 6 is the commercially important homopolymer of caprolactum.
Most completely polymerized nylon materials are physiologically inert,
regardless of the toxicity of the monomer from which they are made
(Peterson, 1977). Few data exist on the toxicity of Nylon 6 in animals.
Most toxicity studies relate to thermal degradation products and so are
not relevant to the exposure of wildlife to shot containing nylon.
Montgomery (1982) reported that feeding Nylon 6 to rats at a level of
25 percent of the diet for 2 weeks caused a slower rate of weight gain,
presumably due to a decrease in food consumption and feed efficiency.
However, the rats suffered no anatomic injuries due to the consumption
of nylon.
Federal's 30-day dosing study (Bursian et al., 1996) included four
treatment groups of game-farm mallards (16 birds in each group, 8 males
and 8 females) exposed to different types of shot: 8 No. 4 steel, 8 No.
4 lead, 8 BBs of tungsten-polymer, and none (control). All TP-dosed
birds survived the test with no significant alteration in body weight.
There were no changes in hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, or ALAD
activity. The only significant difference between no-shot, steel, and
TP males in any of the 25 plasma chemistry parameters at day 15 was an
increase in the albumin/globulin ratio in the TP birds when compared to
the other two groups, but the authors felt this was not remarkable.
Three TP-dosed males developed mild biliary stasis. The authors
attributed this to the intubating of mallards with 8 BBs of TP shot
inducing a pathological condition, however, slight, that is not found
in the control birds. No other histopathological lesions were found. In
general, no adverse effects were seen in mallards
[[Page 40076]]
given 8 BB-size TP shot and monitored over a 30-day period. Tungsten
was detected in the femur of 2 TP-dosed females and the kidneys of 2
TP-dosed birds; in both tissues, concentrations were only slightly
above detection limits.
Based on the results of the toxicological report and the toxicity
test (Tier 1 and 2), the Service concludes that TP shot (95.5 percent
tungsten and 4.5 percent Nylon 6 or 11, by weight with <1 percent="" residual="" lead),="" does="" not="" pose="" a="" significant="" danger="" to="" migratory="" birds="" or="" other="" wildlife="" and="" their="" habitats.="" however,="" the="" service="" has="" some="" concern="" that="" the="" absorption="" of="" tungsten="" into="" the="" femur,="" kidney,="" and="" liver="" could="" potentially="" affect="" the="" spectacled="" eider="" (somateria="" fischeri),="" a="" species="" already="" subject="" to="" adverse="" weather,="" predation,="" and="" lead="" poisoning="" on="" the="" yukon-kuskokwim="" (y-k)="" delta,="" alaska.="" until="" a="" reproductive/chronic="" toxicity="" test="" has="" been="" completed="" and="" the="" service="" has="" reviewed="" the="" results,="" tp="" shot="" cannot="" be="" approved="" for="" the="" y-k="" delta.="" the="" first="" condition="" of="" approval="" is="" toxicity="" testing.="" candidate="" materials="" not="" approved="" under="" tier="" 1="" and/or="" 2="" testing="" are="" subjected="" to="" standards="" of="" tier="" 3="" testing.="" the="" scope="" of="" tier="" 3="" includes="" chronic="" exposure="" under="" adverse="" environmental="" conditions="" and="" effects="" on="" reproduction="" in="" game-farm="" mallards,="" as="" outlined="" in="" 50="" cfr="" 20.134="" (b)(4)(a="" and="" b)="" (tier="" 3)="" and="" in="" consultation="" with="" the="" service's="" office="" of="" migratory="" bird="" management="" and="" the="" u.s.="" geological="" survey's="" division="" of="" biological="" resources.="" this="" study="" includes="" assessment="" of="" long-term="" toxicity="" under="" depressed="" temperature="" conditions="" using="" a="" nutritionally-="" deficient="" diet,="" as="" well="" as="" a="" moderately="" long-term="" study="" that="" includes="" reproductive="" assessment.="" the="" tests="" require="" the="" applicant="" to="" demonstrate="" that="" tp="" shot="" is="" nontoxic="" to="" waterfowl="" and="" their="" offspring.="" the="" second="" condition="" of="" approval="" is="" testing="" for="" residual="" lead="" levels.="" any="" tp="" shot="" with="" lead="" levels="" equal="" to="" or="" exceeding="" 1="" percent="" will="" be="" considered="" toxic="" and,="" therefore,="" illegal.="" in="" the="" august="" 18,="" 1995,="" federal="" register="" (60="" fr="" 43314),="" the="" service="" indicated="" that="" it="" would="" establish="" a="" maximum="" level="" for="" residual="" lead.="" the="" service="" has="" determined="" that="" the="" maximum="" environmentally="" acceptable="" level="" of="" lead="" in="" any="" nontoxic="" shot="" is="" trace="" amounts="" of=""><1 percent,="" and="" has="" incorporated="" this="" requirement="" (50="" cfr="" 20.134(b)(5))="" in="" the="" december="" 1,="" 1997,="" final="" rule="" (62="" fr="" 63608).="" the="" third="" condition="" of="" approval="" involves="" enforcement.="" in="" the="" august="" 18,="" 1995,="" federal="" register="" (60="" fr="" 43314),="" the="" service="" indicated="" that="" final="" unconditional="" approval="" of="" any="" nontoxic="" shot="" would="" be="" contingent="" upon="" the="" development="" and="" availability="" of="" a="" noninvasive="" field="" testing="" device.="" several="" noninvasive="" field="" testing="" devices="" are="" under="" development="" to="" separate="" tp="" shot="" from="" lead="" shot.="" furthermore,="" tp="" shot="" can="" be="" drawn="" to="" a="" magnet="" as="" a="" simple="" field="" detection="" method.="" this="" requirement="" was="" incorporated="" into="" regulations="" at="" 50="" cfr="" 20.134(b)(6)="" in="" the="" december="" 1,="" 1997,="" final="" rule="" (62="" fr="" 63608).="" this="" proposed="" rule="" would="" amend="" 50="" cfr="" 20.21(j)="" by="" approving="" temporary="" approval="" of="" tp="" shot="" as="" nontoxic="" for="" migratory="" bird="" hunting,="" except="" in="" the="" yukon-kuskokwim="" (y-k)="" delta,="" alaska.="" it="" is="" based="" on="" the="" original="" request="" made="" to="" the="" service="" by="" federal="" cartridge="" company="" on="" july="" 16,="" 1997,="" the="" toxicological="" report,="" and="" acute="" toxicity="" study.="" results="" of="" the="" toxicological="" report="" and="" 30-day="" toxicity="" test="" undertaken="" for="" federal="" cartridge="" company="" document="" the="" apparent="" absence="" of="" any="" deleterious="" effects="" of="" tp="" shot="" when="" ingested="" by="" captive-reared="" mallards="" or="" to="" the="" ecosystem.="" references="" barr="" engineering="" company.="" 1996.="" toxicology="" report="" on="" new="" shot.="" contract="" report="" 2302118/40970091/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-polymer="" shot="" in="" game-farm="" mallards.="" report="" to="" federal="" cartridge="" co.="" 77="" pp.="" gigiema="" i.="" sanitariya.="" 1983.="" mezhdunarodnaya="" kniga.="" moscow,="" ussr.="" 48(7):77.="" grandy,="" j.="" w.,="" l.="" n.="" locke="" and="" g.="" e.="" bagley.="" 1968.="" relative="" toxicity="" of="" lead="" and="" five="" proposed="" substitute="" shot="" types="" to="" pen-reared="" mallards.="" journal="" of="" wildlife="" management="" 32(3):483-488.="" industrial="" medicine.="" 1946.="" volume="" 15,="" p.="" 482.="" interagency="" ecosystem="" management="" task="" force.="" 1995.="" the="" ecosystem="" approach:="" healthy="" ecosystems="" and="" sustainable="" economics.="" volume="" ii-="" implementation="" issues.="" kabata-pendias,="" a.="" and="" h.="" pendias.="" 1984.="" trace="" elements="" in="" soil="" and="" plants.="" crc="" press,="" inc.="" boca="" raton,="" fl.="" karantassis,="" t.="" 1924.="" on="" the="" toxicity="" of="" compounds="" of="" tungsten="" and="" molybdenum.="" ann.="" med.="" 28:1541091543.="" kraabel,="" f.="" w.,="" m.="" w.="" miller,="" d.="" m.="" getzy,="" and="" j.="" k.="" ringleman.="" 1996.="" effects="" of="" embedded="" tungsten-bismuth-tin="" shot="" and="" steel="" shot="" on="" mallards.="" journal="" of="" wildlife="" diseases="" 38(1):1098.="" montgomery,="" r.="" r.="" 1982.="" polymers.="" in="" patty's="" industrial="" hygiene="" and="" toxicology,="" vol.="" iiia="" (g.="" d.="" clayton="" and="" f.="" e.="" clayton,="" eds.)="" pp.="" 4209-4526.="" john="" wiley="" and="" sons,="" ny.="" nell,="" j.="" a,="" w.="" l.="" bryden,="" g.="" s.="" heard,="" and="" d.="" balnave.="" 1981.="" reproductive="" performance="" of="" laying="" hens="" fed="" tungsten.="" poultry="" science="" 60(1):257-258.="" pain,="" d.="" j.="" 1990.="" lead="" shot="" ingestion="" by="" waterbirds="" in="" the="" carmarque,="" france:="" an="" investigation="" of="" levels="" and="" interspecific="" difference.="" environ.="" pollut.="" 66:273-285.="" patty's="" industrial="" hygiene="" and="" toxicology.="" 1981.="" wiley="" interscience.="" wiley="" &="" sons,="" inc.="" ny,="" ny.="" third="" edition.="" peterson,="" j.="" e.="" 1977.="" industrial="" health.="" prentice-hall,="" englewood="" cliffs,="" nj.="" ringelman,="" j.="" k.,="" m.="" w.="" miller="" and="" w.="" f.="" andelt.="" 1993.="" effects="" of="" ingested="" tungsten-bismuth-tin="" shot="" on="" mallards.="" colorado="" division="" of="" wildlife,="" fort="" collins,="" 24="" pp.="" nepa="" consideration="" in="" compliance="" with="" the="" requirements="" of="" section="" 102(2)(c)="" of="" the="" national="" environmental="" policy="" act="" of="" 1969="" (42="" u.s.c.="" 4332(c)),="" and="" the="" council="" on="" environmental="" quality's="" regulation="" for="" implementing="" nepa="" (40="" cfr="" 1500-1508),="" the="" service="" prepared="" an="" environmental="" assessment="" (ea)="" in="" may,="" 1998.="" this="" ea="" is="" available="" to="" the="" public="" at="" the="" location="" indicated="" under="" the="" addresses="" caption.="" based="" on="" review="" and="" evaluation="" of="" the="" information="" in="" the="" ea,="" the="" service="" has="" determined="" that="" amending="" 50="" cfr="" 20.21(j)="" to="" provide="" approval="" of="" tp="" shot="" as="" nontoxic="" for="" migratory="" bird="" hunting="" would="" not="" be="" a="" major="" federal="" action="" that="" would="" significantly="" affect="" the="" quality="" of="" the="" human="" environment.="" endangered="" species="" act="" considerations="" section="" 7="" of="" the="" endangered="" species="" act="" (esa)="" of="" 1972,="" as="" amended="" (16="" u.s.c.="" 1531="" et="" seq.),="" provides="" that="" federal="" agencies="" shall="" ``insure="" that="" any="" action="" authorized,="" funded="" or="" carried="" out="" .="" .="" .="" is="" not="" likely="" to="" jeopardize="" the="" continued="" existence="" of="" any="" endangered="" species="" or="" threatened="" species="" or="" result="" in="" the="" destruction="" or="" adverse="" modification="" of="" (critical)="" habitat="" .="" .="" .''="" the="" service="" has="" completed="" a="" section="" 7="" consultation="" under="" the="" esa="" for="" this="" proposed="" rule,="" which="" stated="" the="" ``use="" of="" tungsten-polymer="" shot="" is="" not="" likely="" to="" adversely="" affect="" listed="" species.''="" the="" result="" of="" the="" service's="" consultation="" under="" section="" 7="" of="" the="" esa="" is="" available="" to="" the="" public="" at="" the="" location="" indicated="" under="" the="" addresses="" caption.="" regulatory="" flexibility="" act,="" executive="" order="" 12866,="" and="" the="" paperwork="" reduction="" act="" the="" regulatory="" flexibility="" act="" of="" 1980="" (5="" u.s.c.="" 601="" et="" seq.)="" requires="" the="" preparation="" of="" flexibility="" analyses="" for="" rules="" that="" will="" have="" a="" significant="" effect="" on="" a="" substantial="" number="" of="" small="" entities,="" which="" includes="" small="" businesses,="" organizations,="" or="" [[page="" 40077]]="" governmental="" jurisdictions.="" the="" economic="" impacts="" of="" annual="" hunting="" on="" small="" business="" entities="" were="" analyzed="" in="" detail="" and="" a="" small="" entity="" flexibility="" analysis="" (analysis),="" under="" the="" regulatory="" flexibility="" act="" (5="" u.s.c.="" 601="" et="" seq.),="" was="" issued="" by="" the="" service="" in="" 1996="" (copies="" available="" upon="" request="" from="" the="" office="" of="" migratory="" bird="" management).="" the="" analysis="" documented="" the="" significant="" beneficial="" economic="" effect="" on="" a="" substantial="" number="" of="" small="" entities.="" the="" primary="" source="" of="" information="" about="" hunter="" expenditures="" for="" migratory="" game="" bird="" hunting="" is="" the="" national="" hunting="" and="" fishing="" survey,="" which="" is="" conducted="" at="" 5-year="" intervals.="" the="" analysis="" utilized="" the="" 1991="" national="" hunting="" and="" fishing="" survey="" and="" the="" u.s.="" department="" of="" commerce's="" county="" business="" patterns="" from="" which="" it="" was="" estimated="" that="" migratory="" bird="" hunters="" would="" spend="" between="" $254="" and="" $592="" million="" at="" small="" businesses="" in="" 1996.="" the="" approval="" of="" tungsten-polymer="" as="" an="" alternative="" shot="" to="" steel="" and="" bismuth-tin="" will="" have="" a="" minor="" positive="" impact="" on="" small="" businesses="" by="" allowing="" them="" to="" sell="" a="" third="" nontoxic="" shot="" to="" the="" hunting="" public.="" however,="" the="" overall="" effect="" to="" hunting="" expenditures="" in="" general="" would="" be="" minor.="" therefore,="" the="" department="" of="" the="" interior="" certifies="" that="" this="" document="" will="" not="" have="" a="" significant="" economic="" effect="" on="" a="" substantial="" number="" of="" small="" entities="" under="" the="" regulatory="" flexibility="" act.="" the="" approved="" shot="" will="" merely="" supplement="" nontoxic="" shot="" already="" in="" commerce="" and="" available="" throughout="" the="" retail="" and="" wholesale="" distribution="" systems,="" therefore,="" this="" rule="" would="" have="" minimal="" effect="" on="" such="" entities.="" the="" service="" anticipates="" no="" dislocation="" or="" other="" local="" effects="" with="" regard="" to="" hunters="" and="" others.="" this="" document="" is="" not="" a="" significant="" rule="" subject="" to="" office="" of="" management="" and="" budget="" review="" under="" executive="" order="" 12866.="" this="" rule="" does="" not="" contain="" collections="" of="" information="" that="" require="" approval="" by="" the="" office="" of="" management="" and="" budget="" under="" 44="" u.s.="" c.="" 3501="" et="" seq.="" the="" service="" does="" have="" omb="" approval="" (1018-0067;="" expires="" 06/30/="" 2000)="" for="" information="" collection="" relating="" to="" what="" manufacturers="" of="" shot="" are="" required="" to="" provide="" the="" service="" for="" the="" nontoxic="" shot="" approval="" process.="" for="" further="" information="" see="" 50="" cfr="" 20.134.="" unfunded="" mandates="" reform="" the="" service="" has="" determined="" and="" certifies="" pursuant="" to="" the="" unfunded="" mandates="" act,="" 2="" u.s.c.="" 1502="" et="" seq.,="" that="" this="" rulemaking="" will="" not="" impose="" a="" cost="" of="" $100="" million="" or="" more="" in="" any="" given="" year="" on="" local="" or="" state="" governments="" or="" private="" entities.="" civil="" justice="" reform--executive="" order="" 12988="" the="" department="" has="" determined="" that="" these="" proposed="" regulations="" meet="" the="" applicable="" standards="" provided="" in="" sections="" 3(a)="" and="" 3(b)(2)="" of="" executive="" order="" 12988.="" list="" of="" subjects="" in="" 50="" cfr="" part="" 20="" exports,="" hunting,="" imports,="" reporting="" and="" recordkeeping="" requirements,="" transportation,="" wildlife.="" accordingly,="" the="" service="" proposes="" to="" amend="" part="" 20,="" subchapter="" b,="" chapter="" 1="" of="" title="" 50="" of="" the="" code="" of="" federal="" regulations="" as="" follows:="" part="" 20--[amended]="" 1.="" the="" authority="" citation="" for="" part="" 20="" continues="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" authority:="" 16="" u.s.c.="" 703-712="" and="" 16="" u.s.c.="" 742="" a-j.="" 2.="" section="" 20.21="" is="" amended="" by="" revising="" paragraph="" (j)="" introductory="" text="" and="" adding="" paragraph="" (j)(3)="" to="" read="" as="" follows:="" 20.21="" hunting="" methods.="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" (j)="" while="" possessing="" shot="" (either="" in="" shotshells="" or="" as="" loose="" shot="" for="" muzzleloading)="" other="" than="" steel="" shot,="" or="" bismuth-tin="" (97="" parts="" bismuth:="" 3="" parts="" tin="" with=""><1 percent="" residual="" lead)="" shot,="" or="" tungsten-="" iron="" ([nominally]="" 40="" parts="" tungsten:="" 60="" parts="" iron="" with=""><1 percent="" residual="" lead)="" shot,="" or="" tungsten-polymer="" (95.5="" part="" tungsten:="" 4.5="" parts="" nylon="" 6="" or="" 11="" with=""><1 percent="" residual="" lead)="" shot,="" or="" such="" shot="" approved="" as="" nontoxic="" by="" the="" director="" pursuant="" to="" procedures="" set="" forth="" in="" 20.134,="" provided="" that:="" *="" *="" *="" *="" *="" (3)="" tungsten-polymer="" shot="" (95.5="" parts="" tungsten:="" 4.5="" parts="" nylon="" 6="" or="" 11="" with=""><1 percent="" residual="" lead)="" is="" legal="" as="" nontoxic="" shot="" for="" the="" 1998-99="" migratory="" bird="" hunting="" season,="" except="" for="" the="" yukon-kuskokwim="" delta="" habitat="" in="" alaska.="" dated:="" july="" 14,="" 1998.="" donald="" j.="" barry,="" assistant="" secretary="" for="" fish="" and="" wildlife="" and="" parks.="" [fr="" doc.="" 98-19890="" filed="" 7-24-98;="" 8:45="" am]="" billing="" code="" 4310-55-p="">