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Proposal Outlines Approach for Field Implementation of Pesticide- Related Endangered Species Protection Program

Release Date: 12/04/2002
Contact Information:


Dave Deegan 202-564-7839/[email protected]

(12/04/02) EPA has proposed and is seeking public comment on a field implementation plan for its Endangered Species Protection Program (ESPP). The proposal, published in the Federal Register on Dec. 2, describes how the Agency will ensure that appropriate protection measures are implemented for federally-listed endangered and threatened species, in compliance with both section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the law that governs regulation of pesticides in the United States. Field implementation of the ESPP is proposed to be accomplished by completing and upgrading county-specific bulletins, amending pesticide labels to reference these county bulletins and by enhancing monitoring programs to ensure that lawful pesticide use does not adversely affect listed species. The goal of the program is to carry out the Agency’s responsibilities under FIFRA in compliance with the ESA, while at the same time not placing unnecessary burdens on agricultural and other pesticide users. Comments on the Agency’s proposed implementation of the ESPP will be accepted until March 2, 2003. The public docket for this notice includes a summary of the current technical review and consultation approaches employed by the Agency and the standard evaluation procedure used for ecological risk assessments. Through a separate Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking expected to be issued soon, EPA along with the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Commerce will be seeking public input on ways that the ESA consultation process can be improved with respect to pesticide registrations. Resulting from this process, policies and procedures under the ESA or under FIFRA may be revised to ensure a more effective program. Details regarding the proposed field implementation approach and the 90-day comment period are available at: https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/index.htm. More information on EPA’s Endangered Species Protection Program is available at: https://www.epa.gov/espp/.