EPA Places Restrictions on Pesticide Use to Protect Four Endangered and Threatened Species

For Release: December 7, 2016

EPA is placing geographically specific pesticide use restrictions on the use of eight gas cartridge products containing sodium and potassium nitrate, carbon and carbon dioxide, and sulfur to protect four endangered and threatened (listed) species in certain areas of the United States. These include the gopher tortoise, Hualapai Mexican vole, Mount Graham red squirrel, and Utah prairie dog. Gas cartridge products are used to control burrowing mammals.

The restrictions can be found in EPA’s Endangered Species Protection Program Bulletins. 

The new labels for gas cartridge products reference the Bulletins, thus making them enforceable. The new labels should largely replace the previous ones on the market by mid-2018. In order to allow gas cartridge users adequate time to plan for future applications in light of the new use limitations, the Bulletins will become enforceable in June 2017. 

This action represents the first case where we are taking measures to protect listed species as a result of registration review and prior to formal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Registration review is EPA’s review of each registered pesticide at least every 15 years to determine whether it continues to meet the FIFRA standard for registration. For information on the registration review of the gas cartridge products see: sodium and potassium nitrate – EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-1118; carbon and carbon dioxide – EPA-HQ-OPP-2007-0705; and sulfur – EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0176 at www.regulations.gov.