Together with NOAA Fisheries Service, with whom we administer the Endangered Species Act, we finalized new regulations that make it easier for the Environmental Protection Agency to consult with the Services about the effects of pest-control products.

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act directs all Federal agencies to use their existing authorities to conserve threatened and endangered species and, in consultation with the Service, to ensure that their actions do not jeopardize listed species or destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. Section 7 applies to management of Federal lands as well as other Federal actions that may affect listed species, such as Federal approval of private activities through the issuance of Federal permits, licenses, or other actions.

For more information

Read the news release at news.fws.gov

Read the regulations: Final Joint counterpart Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation Regulations (published in the Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 150, August 5, 2004) [pdf]

Read the full Environmental Assessment [pdf]

Read the Alternative Consultation Agreement [pdf]

How does the EPA determine the risk from pesticides to threatened and endangered species? Read this overview, from the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs [975 KB pdf]

The overview is supported by 81 additional documents, which are available as pdf files by contacting:

Marj Nelson , Chief
Branch of Consultation and HCP's
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Rm. 420
Arlington, Virginia 22203
703-358-2105

Read the Fish and Wildlife Service's evaluation of the EPA approach [520 KB pdf]

(Please note: To view PDF documents, you may need to download and install the Adobe Acrobat Reader, free from Adobe, Inc.)