For Release: June 24, 2015

EPA is concerned about the dwindling population of monarch butterflies and has identified actions to protect the monarch and the milkweed plant, an important resource for the monarch butterfly. The document, EPA’s Risk Management Approach to Identifying Options for Protecting the Monarch Butterfly, outlines an approach for actions to protect the monarch butterfly. EPA is soliciting public comment on which potential action or a combination of actions would be most effective in reducing the impacts of herbicides on the monarch butterfly and its habitat. The agency is also requesting additional suggestions for protection measures for the monarch.

Since there are many threats to pollinators, including the monarch butterfly, efforts to protect such resources will need to be multifaceted and reflect the interests of various sectors (federal, academic, public interest groups, industry, and others). EPA’s efforts will be informed by input from stakeholders, while also balancing the needs of landowners for weed and vegetation management in varied landscapes. EPA invites stakeholders to comment on this document at www.regulations.gov in Docket# EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0389. EPA will be accept public comments until July 24, 2015.

This EPA effort further supports President Obama’s 2014 initiative on pollinator health, which highlights the importance of the monarch butterfly and establishes a task force of federal agencies to develop a strategy to conserve pollinators.

It also advances the efforts of the Canada/Mexico/U.S. Trilateral Committee for Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management.Exit Consistent with its goals of conserving and managing natural resources across North America, the committee has recognized the monarch butterfly as an emblematic species shared by the three countries and has renewed collaborative efforts to protect the species and its required resources.

Read about other actions EPA is taking to protect pollinators.