Newsletter (July 2025) 
New Documents/Maps Added to the Website
In December 2024, EPA released their process for developing core maps for pesticide use limitation areas (PULAs) that can be followed by non-governmental entities who wish to develop core maps. EPA announced the publication of some "interim" core maps on June 12, 2025 (EPA Updates Maps to Protect Endangered Species and Provide Flexibility to Farmers | US EPA). The FIFRA Endangered Species Task Force (FESTF) is supportive of this effort to identify areas within a species range that are relevant to protecting the population from pesticides. FESTF has been aggregating data related to species locations and attributes for over 25 years.
COMING SOON: Core Map Development Tracking Document, Maps of Interim Core Maps released by EPA, and other relevant documents.
What's going on at EPA?
Update on EPA's ESA Strategies
- No current update
Update to EPA's ESA Websites
- EPA's Mitigation Menu was last updated on April 30, 2025
Dockets open for Comment
- New Active Ingredient, Trifludimoxazin (Docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0649) - Comments Due July 26, 2025
- New Use on Dicamba-tolerant Cotton and Dicamba-tolerant Soybean (Docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0154) - Comments Due August 22, 2025
- 4-CPA Proposed Final Registration Review Decision (Docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0544) - Comments Due September 22, 2025
recent Decisions by EPA
- No current update
What's new at US FWS?
Dockets open for Comment
- Endangered and Threatened Species: Status for Fish Lake Valley Tui Chub - Comments due on July 21, 2025
- Endangered and Threatened Species: Designation of Critical Habitat for Four Distinct Population Segments of the Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog- Comments due on July 28. 2025
- Endangered and Threatened Species: Status for Ghost Orchid - Comments due on August 4, 2025
- Endangered and Threatened Species: Endangered Species Status for Seven Species of Pangolin - Comments due on August 18, 2025
- Endangered and Threatened Species: Removal of Gila Chub From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife - Comments due on August 18, 2025
- Endangered and Threatened Species: Status for Barrens Darter - Comments due on September 2, 2025
recent Decisions by FWS
- Removal of Roanoke Logperch from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (FWS-R5-ES-2023-0181; Rule Effective August 21, 2025)
What's new at NOAA Fisheries (NMFS)?
Dockets open for Comment
- Endangered and Threatened Species: 90-Day Finding on a Petition to Revise the Critical Habitat Designation for Southern California Steelhead - Comments due on September 9, 2025
recent Decisions by NMFS
- No current update
Calendar of Events
Representatives of FESTF will be attending and/or presenting at the following events:
- APS in Honolulu, Hawaii (August 2-5) – August 5th
- Special Session: Endangered Species Act: new agricultural outlook post ESA Strategies
- ACS 2025 in Washington, DC (August 17-21) – August 18th
- Session: Endangered Species Pesticide Risk Modifiers: Effects, Exposure, and Species-Specific Considerations
- SETAC 2025 in Portland, Oregon (November 16-20)