Challenges with the current methodology for conducting Endangered Species Act risk assessments for pesticides in the United States

Autor: R. Scott Teed, Dwayne R. J. Moore, Oliver Vukov, Richard A. Brain, Jay P. Overmyer
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. 19:817-829
ISSN: 1551-3793
1551-3777
DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4713
Popis: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA or the Agency) is responsible for administering the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The Agency is also required to assess the potential risks of pesticides undergoing registration or re-registration to threatened and endangered (i.e., listed) species to ensure compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To assess potential risks to listed species, a screening-level risk assessment in the form of a biological evaluation (BE) is undertaken by the Agency for each pesticide. Given the large number of registration actions handled by the USEPA annually, efficient tools for conducting BEs are desirable. However, the "Revised Method" that is the basis for the USEPA's BE process has been ineffective at filtering out listed species and critical habitats that are at de minimis risk to pesticides. In the EPA's BEs, the Magnitude of Effect Tool (MAGtool) has been used to determine potential risks to listed species that potentially co-occur with pesticide footprints. The MAGtool is a highly prescriptive, high throughput compilation of existing FIFRA screening-level models with a geospatial interface. The tool has been a significant contributor to risk inflation and ultimately process inefficiency. The ineffectiveness of the tool stems from compounding conservatism, unrealistic and unreasonable assumptions regarding usage, limited application of species-specific data, lack of consideration of multiple lines of evidence, and inability to integrate higher-tier data. Here, we briefly describe the MAGtool and the critical deficiencies that impair its effectiveness, thus undermining its intention. Case studies are presented to highlight the deficiencies and recommend solutions are provided for improving listed species assessments in the future. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;00:0-0. © 2022 SETAC.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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