Background

In 2011, the EPA and the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce and the Interior requested that the National Research Council of the National Academy of Science convene a committee of independent experts to examine topics pertaining to tools and approaches for assessing the effects of proposed FIFRA actions on endangered and threatened species and their critical habitats.

The NRC was asked to consider a range of issues, including:

• identifying best available scientific data and information;
• considering sub-lethal, indirect and cumulative effects;
• assessing the effects of chemical mixtures and inert ingredients;
• using models to assist in analyzing the effects of pesticide use;
• incorporating uncertainties into the evaluations effectively; and
• using geospatial information and datasets in the course of these assessments.

NAS released its report in April 2013 with its recommendations. Read the NAS report. Exit

Status

Since receiving the NAS report, the agencies have been working together to develop shared scientific approaches that reflect the advice provided by the NAS. Working together, scientists from the requesting agencies have met, analyzed the recommendations and have developed interim approaches they will jointly implement as part of a phased iterative process. They are also identifying future tools, models and approaches that will need to be developed some time over a period of years.

Interim Approaches for Pesticide Endangered Species Act Assessments based on National Academy of Sciences Report Recommendations

For More Information

• NAS Report Stakeholder Workshop Presentation (11/13/2013)
• Endangered Species Act Implementation in Pesticide Evaluation: Interim Report to Congress (11/2014)
• 4th Interagency Workshop on Joint Interim Approaches to NAS Recommendations (4/2/2015)

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