The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is intended to protect and promote the recovery of animals and plants that are in danger of becoming extinct. Threats to a species from habitat destruction, pollution, over-harvesting, disease, predation, and other natural or man-made factors must be reviewed and evaluated before an animal or plant can be placed on the federal endangered or threatened species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries Service (collectively, the Services) administer the ESA. However, all federal agencies must ensure that their actions will not jeopardize the existence of listed species or adversely modify designated critical habitat. Therefore, EPA must ensure that use of pesticides it registers will not result in harm to listed species or their critical habitat.
The goal of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestrys Endangered Species Program (ESP) is to work with the U.S. EPA to carry out its responsibilities under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) (PDF) and in compliance with the The Endangered Species Act (ESA), without placing unnecessary burden on agriculture and other pesticide users.
All pesticide products that EPA determines may affect a listed species, that occurs in Oklahoma, or its designated critical habitat may be subject to the ESP.