Based on recommendations from the National Academy of Science (NAS) panel on endangered species risk assessment approaches and methodologies, EPA, FWS, NMFS, and USDA established joint interim approaches. As part of the interim approaches EPA performs an assessment, termed a Biological Evaluation (BE), to determine whether individuals of a listed species have the potential to be exposed to and affected by a pesticide. Since pesticides may have the potential to affect a listed species through direct exposure or indirectly through effects on other species in the community, EPA evaluates direct and indirect effects in the BE in order to determine if the pesticide’s registered use will have "no effect", "may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect", or "may affect and is likely to adversely affect" the species or designated critical habitat. In response to NAS panel questions, EPA clarified “may affect” determinations would only be reached for indirect effects if biological information for a listed species establishes a relationship between the affected taxa and listed species. The NAS panel recommended limiting the evaluation to easily quantifiable indirect effects that might affect an organism’s survival and reproductive success. However, the 2016 BEs for three organophosphate insecticides did not adequately consider species relationships or effect magnitude, which resulted in “may affect "conclusions for nearly all plants and fish based on indirect effects despite the lack of obligate relationships for many of these species. A realistic and practical assessment of the potential for indirect effects is critical to informing effective management decisions. Therefore, we evaluate options for incorporating major components and linkages of species and habitat to assess indirect effects of pesticides on listed species in an adequate and efficient manner, which can be incorporated in future BEs, using case studies with high profile species.<br/>

Tools for evaluating indirect effects of pesticides for informed management decisions

256th National Meeting (2018)

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