EPA eyes new pesticide protections for endangered species

By Marc Heller | 07/25/2024 04:18 PM EDT

The agency says it will identify ways to keep insecticides from harming wildlife while giving farmers more flexibility.

A farmworker sprays pesticide on peaches.

A farmworker sprays pesticide on peach trees. Department of Agriculture/Getty Images

EPA outlined plans Thursday to revamp how it addresses risks to endangered species from insecticides, a move the agency said could make the drawn-out process less cumbersome.

The plan would speed consultations with the Fish and Wildlife Service while giving farmers more flexibility in reducing potential risk from the chemicals, EPA said.

In its draft insecticide strategy, EPA laid out a process for determining how the chemicals can most safely be used in agriculture to not threaten endangered invertebrates or the animals that rely on them for food.

Advertisement

The move applies to insecticides that are to be newly registered, as well as to ones that are already registered but undergoing new evaluations, such as for new active ingredients.

GET FULL ACCESS