[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
