Insights

When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registers a new pesticide or reevaluates a pesticide in registration review, the Agency has a responsibility under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to ensure that the pesticide does not jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or adversely modify their designated critical habitats. Through consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (the Services), EPA identifies areas that may require geographically specific mitigations to protect listed species and/or critical habitats from the use of pesticides. The mitigations would be communicated in Bulletins Live! Two as specific locations requiring Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs). PULAs are specific to particular pesticides and may vary based on the properties of the pesticide. Before a PULA can be created it is first necessary to develop a core map. Core maps are species-specific and highlight areas that need to be conserved for a particular species. EPA has recently established a process for development of core maps and subsequent PULAs. This session will focus on the standardized core map development process as outlined by EPA and experiences from various parties that have used it in the development of core maps.