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US EPA draft biological evaluations of three pesticides’ impacts on endangered species
Apr. 12, 2016
As part of the Endangered Species Act consultation process with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), EPA has released for public comment the first-ever draft biological evaluations analyzing the nation-wide effects of chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion on endangered and threatened species and designated critical habitat. Partial evaluations, without the effects determinations, were released in December 2015.
The EPA is soliciting specific feedback regarding how to refine the assessments. Accompanying the biological evaluations is a document titled “Instructions for Commenting on the Draft Biological Evaluations for Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, and Malathion.” This document outlines the components of the biological evaluations, the types of feedback sought and where to submit comments. EPA encourage commenters to group their comments to help facilitate review because of the anticipated volume of public input.
Following public comment on the draft biological evaluations, EPA will finalize the assessments. For those species and designated critical habitats where registered uses of the pesticides are “likely to adversely affect” species and/or habitat, USFWS and NMFS will use the analyses and data from the biological evaluations in their final Biological Opinions for each of the three chemicals. The Biological Opinions will also have a public comment period before they become final. At any time during this consultation process with USFWS and NMFS, EPA can determine if a pesticide’s registration, label, or use instructions should be altered to ensure use of a pesticide is consistent with the requirements of FIFRA and the ESA. EPA will work with stakeholders to implement these changes through label-based restrictions on use or through geographically-specific Endangered Species Protection Bulletins.
Source: U.S. EPA
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