Archive for June, 2011
NGOs Send Pesticides ESA Letter to EPA
Jun 29th
More than 135 NGOs have signed and sent a letter asking EPA
“to immediately initiate formal consultations under the Endangered Species Act with federal wildlife agencies regarding the impacts of pesticides known to be harmful to hundreds of federally threatened and endangered species.”
This letter is apparently related to recent NGO litigation against EPA involving the Agency’s Endangered Species Act consultations with NMFS and FWS during pesticide registrations under FIFRA. The letter states:
EPA Seeks Comment on NMFS’ BiOp for Pesticides General Permit
Jun 29th
EPA is seeking public comment on a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative in the draft Biological Opinion by the National Marine Fisheries Service that concludes issuance of the Pesticide General Permit (PGP) is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered and threatened species and result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat that has been designated for such species, absent the implementation of the RPA.
Read the entire article attached below
Court Issues Important ESA Pesticides Decision
Jun 21st
On June 14, 2011, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held that EPA‘s initiation of an Endangered Species Act consultation on the impact of a pesticide registration does not preempt lawsuits seeking to force the agency to complete the consultations. This case is Defenders of Wildlife, et al., v. Lisa P. Jackson, et al.The court also agreed with the plaintiffs that the registration for Rozol should be revoked. However, although the court delayed implementing the remedy due to the product’s widespread use, and asked the parties to negotiate a remedy. The judge said that if the parties were unable to agree, she would hold a July 14 hearing on what injunctive relief to issue.
SFIREG Full Committee Refers ESA Pesticides Issue Paper to EPA
Jun 21st
SFIREG Full Committee Refers ESA Pesticides Issue Paper to EPA
At its June 20, 2011 meeting, the Full Committee of the State FIFRA Issues Research & Evaluation Group adopted a subcommittee Issues paper on the Endangered Species Act pesticides consultations, and referred it to EPA. This Issue paper is the subject of a previous article on this website: http://www.thecre.com/forum1/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/esapestsfireg.pdf.
Read the complete article attached below
Syngenta Criticizes NMFS’ Revised Draft BiOp for Chlorothalonil
Jun 15th
Syngenta has filed comments which sharply criticize the revised draft biological opinion that NMFS prepared for chlorothalonil. Syngenta’s summary of its comments is partially set forth below:
Read the complete article attached below.
Oregon Farm Bureau Federation Criticizes NMFS’ Revised Draft BiOp for Chlorothalonil
Jun 15th
The Oregon Farm Bureau Federation filed comments which sharply criticized NMFS’ revised draft Biological Opinion for the fungicide chlorothalonil. The Bureau’s succinct comments are provided below:
Read the complete article attached below:
Court Rules on Intervention in ESA Pesticides Mega-Suit
Jun 6th
Enviros have sued EPA over the Agency’s alleged failure to fulfill its duties to consult with NMFS and FWS under the Endangered Species Act. Various industry groups moved to intervene in the case. The enviros opposed intervention. On June 3, 2011, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California ruled on the industry motions to intervene.
Read the complete article attached below.
Enviros Fight Over ESA Settlement
Jun 6th
The Center for Biological Diversity and WildEarth Guardians filed separate lawsuits in different courts against the Fish and Wildlife Service, alleging that FWS failed to comply with statutory deadlines for listing various species under the Endangered Species Act. All the CBD and WEG lawsuits were consolidated in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. On May 10, 2011, WEG and FWS filed a settlement agreement in the court. The settlement has to be approved by the court.
Read the complete article attached below.
CRE Files Comments on Revised NMFS BiOp
Jun 1st
On May 31, 2011, CRE filed comments with EPA on NMFS’ revised Biological Opinion for
the effects of Captan, Chlorothalonil, 2,4-D, Diuron, Linuron and Triclopyr BEE on Pacific salmon. CRE’s comments make the following points:
● The BiOp does not comply with NMFS’ Information Quality Act (“IQA”) Pre-Dissemination Review/Certification requirements.
● NMFS needs to conduct external peer review of its Population Effects Models to determine their compliance with EPA’s CREM Guidelines.
● NMFS needs to analyze journal articles and other studies that it uses to determine whether they meet IQA guidelines.
SFIREG Full Committee to Review New Issue Paper on ESA Consultations
Jun 1st
The Association of American Pesticide Control Officials/State FIFRA Issues Research and Evaluation Group will meet at EPA in Arlington, Virginia on June 20-21, 2011. Among other issues, the SFIREG Full Committee will consider a new issue paper on EPA’s pesticide consultations under the Endangered Species Act. This SFIREG meeting is open to the public. Publicly available meeting materials can be reviewed by going to www.regulations.gov, and searching for docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0001.