Protection of California Red-legged Frog from Pesticides
Stipulated Injunction and Order Background
On October 20, 2006, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California imposed no-use buffer zones around California red-legged frog upland and aquatic habitats for certain pesticides. This injunction and order are part of a settlement reached between U.S. EPA, CropLife America, American Forest and Paper Association, Western Plant Health Association, Oregonians for Food and Shelter, and Syngenta Corporation as co-defendants, and the Center for Biological Diversity as the plaintiff.
The suit by the Center for Biological Diversity alleged that U.S. EPA failed to solicit U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) formal consultation on the risks of 66 pesticides to California red-legged frog (CRLF).
This injunction and order will remain in effect for each pesticide listed below until EPA goes through formal 7(A)(2) consultation with FWS on each of the 66 active ingredients, and FWS issues a Biological Opinion including a “not likely to adversely affect” statement for the pesticides. Each pesticide in turn will be removed from the list, as this occurs.
Pesticide Use Restrictions Now Required
Under the injunction and order, no-use buffer zones of 60 feet for ground applications and 200 feet for aerial applications apply from the edge of the following California red-legged frog habitats as defined by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Center for Biological Diversity: Aquatic Feature, Aquatic Breeding Habitat, Non- Breeding Aquatic Habitat, and Upland Habitat (details on these habitats are given in a Powerpoint Presentation following the list of prohibited active ingredients). These CRLF habitats are found in 33 counties of California.
The active ingredients for which the no-use buffer zones apply are the following:
- 2,4-D
- Acephate
- Alachlor
- Aldicarb
- Atrazine
- Azinphos-methyl
- Bensulide
- Bromacil
- Captan
- Carbaryl
- Chloropicrin
- Chlorothalonil
- Chlorpyrifos
- Chlorthaldimethyl (DCPA)
- Diazinon
- Dicofol
- Diflubenzuron
- Dimethoate
- Disulfoton
- Diuron
- Endosulfan
- EPTC
- Esfenvalerate
- Fenamiphos
- Glyphosate
- Hexazinone
- Imazapyr
- Iprodione
- Linuron
- Malathion
- Mancozeb
- Maneb
- Metam sodium
- Methamidophos
- Methidathion
- Methomyl
- Methoprene
- Methyl parathion
- Metolachlor
- Molinate
- Myclobutanil
- Naled
- Norflurazon
- Oryzalin
- Oxamyl
- Oxydemeton-methyl
- Oxyfluorfen
- Paraquat dichloride
- Pendimethalin
- Permethrin
- Phorate
- Phosmet
- Prometryn
- Propanil
- Propargite
- Propyzamide (Pronamide)
- Rotenone
- Simazine
- Strychnine
- Telone (1,3-dichlorpropene)
- Thiobencarb
- Tribufos (DEF)
- Triclopyr
- Trifluralin
- Vinclozolin
- Ziram
In order to assist the public in learning all the details of the stipulated injunction and court order, DPR has developed a presentation file covering all aspects of this document.
As more information becomes available, DPR will post it on this website.
For more information:
- Information to Assist Pesticide Users in Determining Whether the California Red-legged Frog Injunction Applies to their Proposed Pesticide Use (Steps and Information for Pesticide Users)
- Stipulated Injunction and Order document, PDF (October 20, 2006)
If you have more questions about these requirements, contact:
Anita Pease
USEPA Headquarters
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Mail Code: 7507P
Washington, DC 20460
Phone: (703) 305-0392
E-mail: Pease.Anita@epa.gov
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Email: EndangeredSpecies@cdpr.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 324-3888