EPA Announces Greater Compliance with Endangered Species Act, Includes Flexibility for Ag Producers

EPA announced Tuesday efforts to more consistently comply with the Endangered Species Act when registering new pesticide active ingredients. The agency says this effort will reverse decades of practice by assessing the potential effects of conventional pesticides on endangered species. Effective this month, EPA says this policy should reduce litigation against the agency for insufficient protections of endangered species and improve the legal defensibility of new active ingredients.

EPA addressed agricultural producers by saying it will provide mitigation options where possible to allow flexibility while protecting endangered species.

Read more on EPA’s announcement here.