A Legal Discussion of the FIFRA/ESA Consultation Process Over Time
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62300/w946yk97Keywords:
Endangered Species Act (ESA), Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 7 Consultation, Pesticide Regulation, Biological Opinion (BiOp), Early Mitigation, Herbicide Strategy, Vulnerable Species Pilot Program (VSPP), Critical Habitat, Risk-Benefit Analysis, ESA Compliance, Pesticide Labeling, Federal PreemptionAbstract
This paper examines the intersection of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It provides an overview of the statutory obligations under both laws, reviews EPA’s historical efforts to comply with ESA requirements during pesticide regulation, and analyzes recent policy developments aimed at improving compliance. The discussion includes past consultation strategies, litigation trends, and the agency’s current proposals, such as early mitigation measures, the Draft Herbicide Strategy, and the Vulnerable Species Pilot Program. The paper concludes by highlighting unresolved legal and practical questions regarding the effectiveness and enforceability of these new approaches.
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