We’ve recently learned that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Endangered Species Protection Program, may be requiring an additional step to applying pesticides in some areas of the state. This is dependent upon whether or not the label of the pesticide you are using directs you to a website called the Bulletins Live! Two. We are looking into this and will have more information for you in March. Here’s what we found on EPA’s website:
Bulletins are a part of EPA's Endangered Species Protection Program. Bulletins set forth geographically specific pesticide use limitations for the protection of threatened and endangered (listed) species and their designated critical habitat.
If your pesticide label directs you to this website, you are required to follow the pesticide use limitation(s) found on your label and in the Bulletins Live! Twosystem for your intended application area, pesticide product, and application month. You may not see any geographically specific use limitations for the product you are applying even if your label directed you to this website because either:
- EPA has not yet completed the process of identifying whether additional geographically specific use limitations are needed; or
- There are no additional geographically specific use limitations required for the time period and location you plan to apply the pesticide product.
EPA continues to complete Endangered Species Act consultations and update the Bulletins Live! Two system with additional geographically specific use limitations that may be applicable to your pesticide product in the future. Therefore, before you apply a pesticide, check to see if new or additional directions for the product have been added to Bulletins Live! Two. It's important to note, you have a six-month window to obtain a bulletin before you apply a pesticide (e.g., you can obtain a bulletin January 1-July 1 if you plan to apply the pesticide on July 1).