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Memorandum of Understanding on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act – Now Available for Public Comment
For Release: February 5, 2014
A draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Pesticide Programs and the Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service to protect migratory birds is now available for public comment. The comment period will end March 7, 2014. To submit comments, go to the docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0744 at www.regulations.gov. We will evaluate the comments and determine if significant changes will be made to the draft MOU. EPA anticipates signing the MOU at the annual Council for the Conservation of Migratory Birds meeting in April 2014.
The purpose of this MOU is to promote the conservation of migratory bird populations through enhanced collaboration between EPA’s OPP and FWS on actions carried out by OPP. Migratory birds are an important component of biological diversity, and as such, conserving them and their habitats supports ecological integrity, contributes to public conservation education, and enhances the growing interest in outdoor recreation opportunities.
Under the MOU, EPA’s primary responsibilities include:
- considering the effects of pesticides on migratory birds,
- improving reporting on wildlife incidents,
- using best available data in ecological risk assessments,
- ensuring that bird hazard language appears on all appropriate pesticide product labels,
- promoting migratory bird conservation in international activities, and
- encouraging Integrated Pest Management.
Some of FWS’ primary responsibilities include:
- providing OPP with technical information on avian stressors,
- developing and providing OPP with species-specific avian conservation plans,
- developing a mechanism to exchange bird mortality information,
- promoting research into the effects of pesticides on birds, and
- making available information on alternative control methods to avicides and
- rodenticides.
More information is available at www.epa.gov/pesticides/ecosystem/migratory-birds.html.