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The new workplan is the latest in the EPA's efforts to fully meet its ESA obligations when registering pesticides, a process where the agency has historically underperformed. In fact, for much of the Agency's history, it has met its ESA duties for less than five percent of its FIFRA decisions, a record that has led to over 20 ESA lawsuits against the Agency. Currently, the Agency has over 50 pesticide ingredients related to over 1,000 pesticide products facing both court-enforceable deadlines to comply with the ESA and pending litigation alleging ESA violations.
“Today’s workplan serves as the blueprint for how EPA will create an enduring path to meet its goals of protecting endangered species and providing all people with safe, affordable food and protection from pests,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “The workplan reflects EPA’s collaboration with other federal agencies and commitment to listening to stakeholders about how they can work with the Agency to solve this longstanding challenge.”
The plan establishes four overall strategies and dozens of actions to adopt protections for a successful ESA-FIFRA program that focuses on protecting species under the ESA, while minimizing regulatory impacts to pesticide users such as farmers, public health authorities, and others. Under the new plan's four strategies, the Agency will support the development of safer technologies to control pests, complete timely FIFRA decisions, and collaborate with other agencies and stakeholders on implementing the plan.
>>Read More About the Workplan
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