EPA proposes production practices to protect endangered species

EPA released an Endangered Species Act (ESA) Workplan Update that, according to the Agency, outlines major steps to increase protections for wildlife and regulatory certainty for pesticide users. The workplan includes a pesticide update that builds on the first update to the ESA Workplan that was originally issued earlier this year. A large portion of the ESA Workplan Update outlines the label mitigation measures being considered, for which a 75-day comment period has been issued.

This appendix provides additional details on proposed label language including Bulletins Live! Two (BLT) language, FIFRA Interim Ecological Mitigation, and other label statements the EPA may consider in registration review, including Proposed Interim Decisions (PID) and other Agency actions. Through comments on this appendix and future individual PIDs, EPA is seeking feedback from the public on the following issues related to this label language: feasibility, user impacts, efficacy, appropriateness (supported by accompanying data), compliance or enforcement issues, and improvements to clarify language for users while still retaining the intent and efficacy of the language.

The Update indicates that proposed mitigation measures will first be seen in upcoming Proposed Interim Decisions on thifensulfuron-methyl (active ingredient in Dupont Basic Blend, Dupont Enlite, and Dupont Synchrony XP) and dicloran or DCNA (active ingredient in Botran) along with Endangered Species Act Registration Review pilots for methomyl (active ingredient in Lanate, Nudrin and Lemur), carbaryl (active ingredient in Sevin), and select neonicotinoids including imidacloprid ( active ingredient in Admire), thiamethoxam (Cruiser), and clothianidin (Belay).

The National Potato Council is working to review the detailed descriptions of the mitigation measures in cooperation with the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance to ensure that the proposed mitigation measures can be implemented in a practical manner.

– National Potato Council