U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to Protect Monarch Butterfly

On Tuesday the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed that the monarch butterfly be listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Under the rules for species listed as threatened, as opposed to the more serious endangered, rules are more flexible and can better allow USFWS to balance monarch butterfly conservation efforts with economic impacts. Specific to pesticides, the USFWS listing the monarch butterfly as threatened means EPA would need to consider its protection, along with all other ESA listed species, when registering and re-registering pesticides. NAAA will monitor this listing as well as all other ESA related activity from EPA to ensure pesticides can be aerially applied.