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Fisheries Home » Protected Resources » Conservation & Recovery » Consulting with Federal Agencies

Pesticide Consultations with EPA

Joint Stakeholder Workshops

Collaboration among government agencies, rice growers, and industry restrict use of pesticide thiobencarb to further protect salmon and steelhead trout in California.



ESA-Listed Salmonids Map:
28 Evolutionarily Significant Units

The Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA Fisheries (NMFS) held a Workshop to provide feedback on Assessing Risks to Endangered and Threatened Species from Pesticides in October 2014. We also held a stakeholder workshop in November 2013 to discuss and take comment on interim scientific approaches to address National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recommendations for assessing risks from pesticides to endangered and threatened species.

Background

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is consulting with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Protected Resources for re-registering 37 pesticide active ingredients.

As part of a court settlement with the plaintiff, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP) [pdf], we agreed to complete biological opinions for the 37 active ingredients, with final deadlines specified for different batches of pesticides (see schedule).

Biological Opinions

We have completed 7 opinions addressing 31 active ingredients, as listed below. Two ingredients-- Lindane and Molinate--will not be reviewed, as their use has been prohibited since August 2009. The four remaining ingredients--1,3-D; Racemic metolachlor; Bromoxynil; and Prometryn--are due for review by December 31, 2019. A summary of the opinions is available on our website.

  1. Diflubenzuron, Fenbutatin Oxide, and Propargite
    On January 7, 2015, NMFS provided EPA its final Biological Opinion relative to the potential effects of the pesticides diflubenzuron, fenbutatin oxide, and propargite on federally listed threatened or endangered Pacific salmon and steelhead and their designated critical habitat.

    NMFS worked with EPA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the pesticide registrants on suggested changes to the pesticide labels before completing the Biological Opinion. We found that the proposed changes reduced risk but did not provide enough protections to avoid jeopardy or adverse modification of critical habitat, so the Biological Opinion recommends reasonable and prudent alternatives to protect Pacific salmon and steelhead. EPA will consider the opinion and may propose additional mitigation measures during the registration review process for these pesticides.

  1. Thiobencarb
    On July 2, 2012, NMFS issued a final biological opinion concluding that EPA’s registration of herbicide thiobencarb is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of three listed Pacific salmonid Evolutionary Significant Units/Distinct Population Segments or adversely modify their designated critical habitat.

    We analyzed EPA’s registration of thiobencarb based on its authorized use on rice. California is the only state within the range of listed Pacific salmonids that has approved the use of thiobencarb, and use is only approved for rice. As a result, this biological opinion focuses on three listed Pacific salmon Evolutionary Significant Units/Distinct Population Segments located in California’s Central Valley where rice is grown. Re-initiation of this consultation will be necessary if thiobencarb is approved for use by other states with listed Pacific salmonids, or if thiobencarb use expands to any other parts of California within the range of listed Pacific salmonids.
  1. Oryzalin, pendimethalin, and Trifluralin
    On May 31, 2012, NMFS issued a final biological Opinion addressing the effects of dinitroanaline herbicides on listed Pacific salmonids.

    NMFS concluded that oryzalin, pendimethalin, and trifluralin are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of some listed Pacific salmonids, and adversely modify designated critical habitat of some listed salmonids.
  1. Captan, chlorothalonil, 2,4-D, diuron, linuron, and triclopyr BEE
    On June 30, 2011, NMFS issued a final biological opinion addressing the effects of four herbicides (2,4-D, triclopyr BEE, diuron, linuron) and two fungicides (captan, chlorothalonil) on listed Pacfic salmonids. NMFS's conclusions are that:
    • pesticide products containing 2,4-D are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of all ESUs/DPSs of listed Pacific salmonids and adversely modify designated critical habitat for some ESUs/DPSs
    • pesticide products containing chlorothalonil or diuron adversely modify designated critical habitat for some some ESUs/DPSs
    • pesticide products containing captan, linuron, or triclopyr BEE do not jeopardize the continued existence of any ESUs/DPSs of listed Pacific salmonids or adversely modify designated critical habitat
  1. Azinphos-methyl, Dimethoate, Disulfoton, Ethoprop, Fenamiphos, Methamidophos, Methidathion, Methyl parathion, Naled, Phorate, Phosmet, Bensulide [pdf]
    (August 2010)
    NMFS concluded that pesticide products containing Azinphos methyl, disulfoton,fenamiphos, methamidophos, or methyl parathion are not likely to jeopardize the continuing existence of any listed Pacific Salmon or destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat.

    NMFS also concluded that the effects of products containing bensulide, dimethoate, ethoprop, methidathion, naled, phorate, or phosmet are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of some listed Pacific Salmonids and to destroy or adversely modify designated habitat of some listed salmonids.
  1. Carbaryl, Carbofuran, and Methomyl [pdf]
    (April 2009)
    NMFS concluded that pesticide products containing carbaryl, carbofuran, and methomyl are likely to jeopardize many populations of ESA-listed Pacific salmonids and destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. Response to the Opinion:
  1. Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, and Malathion [pdf]
    (November 2008)
    These three chemicals are components of insecticides used in both agricultural and urban settings. The opinion concluded that these chemicals are likely to jeopardize 27 populations of salmon on the West Coast listed under the Endangered Species Act. Response to the Opinion: Litigation:

Correspondence Related to Pesticide Consultations Conducted Under this Settlement Agreement

Other Pesticide Consultations Activities

Status of Efforts to Implement the Recommendations of the NAS Report on Ecological Risk Assessment for Endangered and Threatened Species under FIFRA and ESA

In April 2013, the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council released their recommendations for assessing risks from pesticides to listed species under the Endangered Species Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and NOAA Fisheries are working collaboratively and expeditiously to review the report and identify improvements in the current scientific procedures used in evaluating the potential impacts of pesticides to endangered and threatened species. The Federal agencies will develop an implementation plan to provide a timeline and approach for responding to the panel's recommendations and implementing the appropriate revisions to these procedures and approaches. The plan will be available to the public.

More Information on Pacific Salmonids

More Information on Pesticide Effects on Pacific Salmonids

Updated: January 20, 2015