NCGA
Voices Support of ESA Counterpart Regulation (4-16-04)
In comments submitted this
week to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Corn
Growers Association (NCGA) voiced its support of a proposed rule that
would simplify the federal pesticide regulatory process and bring
it into compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Under the provisions of
the proposed rule, called the “ESA counterpart regulation,”
endangered species consultations would be integrated into the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) pesticide registration process. NCGA
President Dee Vaughan said the rule would significantly increase efficiency
in the pesticide registration process.
“We support the proposed
counterpart regulation and the overall alternative consultation process
embodied in the draft (rule),” Vaughan wrote in the formal comments.
“This will provide an efficient and effective process for ensuring
the pesticide registration process complies with ESA consultation
requirements. The proposal also will help the agencies avoid duplicating
their efforts and wasting limited resources.”
The proposed regulation
would eliminate the need for EPA to conduct informal consultation
and obtain written concurrence from FWS for certain actions that EPA
determines are “not likely to adversely affect” any listed
species or critical habitat. Another provision of the rule would allow
FWS to conduct formal consultation in a manner that takes advantage
of EPA's expertise in evaluating ecological effects of federal regulatory
actions on threatened and endangered species and critical habitats.
Vaughan said these measures will streamline the inefficient system
currently in place by improving communication between the EPA and
FWS.
“Few things are more
irritating to farmers and the public than when agencies cannot work
together for the public good,” he said. “The agencies
must understand the laws and rules governing their respective responsibilities
and work together.”
Vaughan’s
comments call for swift finalization of the rule and request that
stakeholders are afforded the opportunity to provide periodic input
on the regulation. To read NCGA’s comments, click
here.