ARLINGTON, VA – Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted an in-person meeting of the Interagency Working Group (IWG) focused on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). CropLife America (CLA) commends EPA for holding this session and engaging stakeholders on this important issue.

The meeting featured Biden Administration officials and career employees, as well as Congressional staff and impacted stakeholders including NGOs, pesticide companies and trade associations, grower organizations, non-agriculture pesticide users, state agencies, and academia. The discussion provided an opportunity for impacted stakeholders to share their input and suggest ways to help protect endangered species and their habitats when registering pesticides. CLA voiced its support for a transparent process that is science based, addresses risks through review of real-world data, and considers the impacts to agriculture, while being protective of endangered species.

All parties present communicated areas of agreement and ‘right track’ components of the workplan, as well as areas for where they feel EPA can improve its ESA Workplan. The involvement and engagement by stakeholders in this process provides the IWG with the best chance for success and stability into the future.

Authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill, this IWG consists of representatives from EPA, USDA, Interior, Commerce, and CEQ. Participants discussed various components of the EPA’s ESA Workplan including mitigation measures, species habitat, interagency coordination, and further stakeholder engagement.