Advancing Transparency of Endangered Species Act Evaluations Through Publicly Available Data
EPA has made the geographic data used to conduct Endangered Species Act (ESA) assessments for pesticides, publicly available for the first time via interactive maps. The maps and underlying data that EPA has released support the Agency's broader efforts to improve protections for federally threatened or endangered (listed) species as outlined in the ESA Workplan and increase transparency in EPA's pesticide review process.
Geospatial Datasets
The datasets include species range and designated critical habitat locations as well as EPA’s Use Data Layers (UDLs). EPA relies on the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (known collectively as the Services) for information on the biology and location of listed species. As the Services continue to learn more about where some listed species are likely located, information will be updated and refined in the maps.
The UDLs represent the potential application sites for agricultural and non-agricultural labeled uses and include areas adjacent to these sites that may be exposed to spray drift or runoff.
The species ranges represent anywhere an individual species could be found based on the best available information at the time of delineation. Critical habitat represents specific habitat areas essential to conservation and continued existence of a listed species. Species location information is mostly from the Environmental Conservation Online System (ECOS). ECOS is a system managed by FWS that is used to make recovery efforts for listed and candidate species more efficient and effective. ECOS houses a variety of reports related to FWS threatened and endangered species. These updates are routinely incorporated into endangered species analysis.
The user may download datasets into either:
- ArcGIS desktop,
- online software as data services, or
- downloaded as individual files and stored locally.
The new maps are interactive, allowing users to filter and explore the data in real-time, and can be shared with others through a web link or embedded in a website or app.
ArcGIS Dashboards
Dashboards are visual displays that present data in an easy-to-read format with all relevant information available on a single screen. Three different dashboards are available, each one answers a specific question and includes several of the datasets described above. A tailored user guide, available within each dashboard, outlines the steps to interact with the tool. EPA recommends reviewing this guide prior to use.
The OCSPP ESA Species Dashboard allows a user to view the OCSPP’s current regulatory layer and LiveSync layers for a species on a map. OCSPP's regulatory range is a snapshot in time and represents the GIS data currently used in pesticide endangered species act evaluations. The LiveSync layer provides up-to-date species GIS data by checking the FWS's ECOS database for changes and incorporating them each week. The available filters allow a user to identify species of interest and after making these selections the species range and critical habitat layers will be visible on the map. As a default this dashboard filters species ranges that have been updated since the last regulatory snapshot. However, this filter can be removed so all species are available.
The OCSPP UDL Dashboard includes the same species filters found in the OCSPP ESA Species Dashboard plus filters to summarize pre-processed UDL overlap information. The UDLs are available for a user to turn on in the map making it possible to visualize these use locations for a given species. Users can download a table summarizing the overlap for specific species and UDLs based on the selection made using the filters.
The OCSPP 2017 Census of Agriculture ESA Dashboard summarizes the county-level crop information reported from the 2017 Census of Agriculture and the species found each the associated counties. Similar to the UDL dashboard the user can refine the display to reflect specific crops and species of interest.
Layers
In ArcGIS, layers are collections of geographic data. Since the data provided by FWS and NMFS is spatial, the ArcGIS system uses the data’s properties to specify how the layer will appear on the map. The integrated data may be represented as points, lines, and/or shapes. OCSPP is making the data layer currently used in endangered species evaluations available. Layers can be loaded into ArcGIS desktop or online software as data services or downloaded as individual files and stored locally. When possible, EPA recommends using the data services via the internet, which requires minimal local storage and ensures the data is up to date—as these layers are updated routinely.
There are two GIS layers that define species locations: regulatory layer and LiveSync layer. OCSPP's regulatory layer is a snapshot in time and represents the GIS data currently used in pesticide ESA evaluations.
From this page you will be able to open the layer in a web map, access the data service URL to load the layer into ArcGIS software, or download a local version.
The LiveSync layer queries ECOS each weekend and incorporates any updates made to individual species ranges or critical habitat. ECOS houses a variety of reports related to FWS threatened and endangered species. These updates are routinely incorporated into the regulatory layer and endangered species analyses.
Use Data Layers
EPA is making the below UDLs available that are located in the United States and its territories. The UDLs represent the potential application sites for pesticides and the associated off-site impact areas, which are areas adjacent to a pesticide use site that may receive pesticides from spray drift and runoff at levels that could affect a species. These layers support listed species evaluations by identifying species found on or near these potential pesticide use locations. The links in the table below bring you to UDLs currently used in endangered species evaluations. From each page you will be able to open the layer in a web map, access the data service URL to load the layer into ArcGIS desktop software, or download a local version.
Several raster functions are available to symbolize the UDLs based on different off-site distances of interest, or the user can set their own displays.
Use the below table to download specific files for the preferred layer.
| UDL Name | UDL Region | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa | CONUS | |
| Citrus | CONUS | |
| Corn | CONUS | |
| Cotton | CONUS | |
| Grapes | CONUS | |
| Other Crops | CONUS | |
| Other Grains | CONUS | |
| Other Orchards | CONUS | |
| Other Row Crops | CONUS | |
| Rice | CONUS | |
| Soybeans | CONUS | |
| Vegetables And Ground Fruit | CONUS | |
| Wheat | CONUS | |
| Cultivated | CONUS | |
| Non-Cultivated | CONUS | |
| Christmas Trees | CONUS | |
| Developed | CONUS and NL48 | |
| Field Nurseries | CONUS and NL48 | |
| Forest Trees | CONUS and NL48 | |
| Managed Forest | CONUS and NL48 | |
| Nurseries | CONUS and NL48 | |
| Open Spaced Developed | CONUS and NL48 | |
| Rangeland | CONUS and NL48 | |
| Right Of Way | CONUS and NL48 | |
| Agriculture | NL48 only |
These tools play an important role in helping EPA and its partners modernize the implementation of the ESA to achieve conservation and recovery goals.
FAQs
Are these data new or already obtainable through other sources?
These data are not new. Rather, EPA is making existing data broadly accessible and providing a new tool to help users access the data. The maps also show which crops are grown near these species and habitats, which can help users determine which pesticides might be used in these areas.
What is this information and how is it obtained?
The information applies to (1) where federally listed species ranges and designated critical habitats are located and (2) where potential pesticide use sites are located. EPA obtains the species information from FWS and NNMFS, who are the experts on the species. The information on potential pesticide use sites is gathered from a variety of sources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides publicly available data describing where agricultural crops are grown.
Why did EPA make this information publicly available?
In support of broader efforts to improve protections for listed species as outlined in the EPA’s 2022 ESA Workplan, EPA worked with large amounts of geographic data from multiple sources to create a user-friendly mapping system. This allows the Agency to increase transparency in EPA’s pesticide review process.
How are these datasets useful?
The information describes where listed species, designated critical habitats, and possible pesticide use sites are located. This can be useful to pesticide registrants who wish to submit an application to EPA to register a pesticide, helping to better understand what listed species EPA would need to consider as part of the registration process and include measures to avoid or minimize potential exposures. The data can also be useful to EPA employees, other government agencies, parties involved in pesticide registration(s), and the public.
Do the maps show where pesticide restrictions are in place to protect federally listed species?
No. EPA uses spatial materials and other information to decide if additional caution may be needed to protect listed species from pesticide exposure in a specific location. Such information includes toxicity and environmental fate and exposure information on a pesticide. It also includes habitat, biological, and other information about species. Just because a species is present in a particular area does not necessarily mean that special restrictions have been identified for listed species. Any required pesticide restrictions are described on pesticide labels.
How precise are these maps, and how certain is EPA that species are located or that crops are grown where these maps suggest they are?
EPA considers the spatial data described on this website to be the best available data that describe species and potential pesticide use site locations. All scientific datasets have uncertainty; and this is true for these GIS datasets. The species locations are defined by FWS and NMFS based on the best available science at the time. However, new information may become available that could enhance our understanding of where species populations are or may be located over time, which could result in increases or decreases in its range.
The crop dataset is developed using remote sensing technology and may identify locations for crops where they do not actually occur (false positive). It may also miss locations of crops where they do occur (false negative).
As described in the UDL item summaries (which are linked in the above table), OCSPP has taken steps to minimize false negative outcomes. Despite limitations, the data provides significant value in the decision-making process by answering the questions of where these species and crops are and where they could occur. Both datasets are routinely updated, and each update is expected to generally reflect greater understanding of species and crop locations.
How do these data relate to pilots that are described on EPA’s website?
Where species are thought to be located and where pesticides may be applied are important factors in EPA’s endangered species evaluations. This information is not a proposed regulation, nor is it an effects determination, or an evaluation of the potential for a pesticide to affect a listed species. Those evaluations may utilize some data that are described here in addition to other geospatial, biological, and chemical data.