November 2009 an Analysis of Possible Risk To
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Project Title An Analysis of Possible Risk to Threatened and Endangered Plant Species Associated with Glyphosate Use in Alfalfa: A County-Level Analysis Authors Thomas Priester, Ph.D. Rick Kemman, M.S. Ashlea Rives Frank, M.Ent. Larry Turner, Ph.D. Bernalyn McGaughey David Howes, Ph.D. Jeffrey Giddings, Ph.D. Stephanie Dressel Data Requirements Pesticide Assessment Guidelines Subdivision E—Hazard Evaluation: Wildlife and Aquatic Organisms Guideline Number 70-1-SS: Special Studies—Effects on Endangered Species Date Completed August 22, 2007 Prepared by Compliance Services International 7501 Bridgeport Way West Lakewood, WA 98499-2423 (253) 473-9007 Sponsor Monsanto Company 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd. Saint Louis, MO 63167 Project Identification Compliance Services International Study 06711 Monsanto Study ID CS-2005-125 RD 1695 Volume 3 of 18 Page 1 of 258 Threatened & Endangered Plant Species Analysis CSI 06711 Glyphosate/Alfalfa Monsanto Study ID CS-2005-125 Page 2 of 258 STATEMENT OF NO DATA CONFIDENTIALITY CLAIMS The text below applies only to use of the data by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) in connection with the provisions of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) No claim of confidentiality is made for any information contained in this study on the basis of its falling within the scope of FIFRA §10(d)(1)(A), (B), or (C). We submit this material to the United States Environmental Protection Agency specifically under the requirements set forth in FIFRA as amended, and consent to the use and disclosure of this material by EPA strictly in accordance with FIFRA. By submitting this material to EPA in accordance with the method and format requirements contained in PR Notice 86-5, we reserve and do not waive any rights involving this material that are or can be claimed by the company notwithstanding this submission to EPA. Company: Monsanto Company Company Agent: Title: Signature: Threatened & Endangered Plant Species Analysis CSI 06711 Glyphosate/Alfalfa Monsanto Study ID CS-2005-125 Page 5 of 258 COPYRIGHT INFORMATION PAGE © 2007 Monsanto Company. All Rights Reserved. This document is protected under copyright law. This document is for use only by the regulatory authority to which this has been submitted by Monsanto Company, and only in support of actions requested by Monsanto Company. Any other use of this material, without prior written consent of Monsanto, is strictly prohibited. By submitting this document, Monsanto does not grant any party or entity any right or license to the information or intellectual property described in this document. Threatened & Endangered Plant Species Analysis CSI 06711 Glyphosate/Alfalfa Monsanto Study ID CS-2005-125 Page 6 of 258 TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF NO DATA CONFIDENTIALITY CLAIMS.................................................... 2 GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICE STATEMENT..................................................................... 3 CERTIFICATION PAGE................................................................................................................ 4 COPYRIGHT INFORMATION PAGE .......................................................................................... 5 ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................... 7 SECTION 1.0: INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................ 8 SECTION 2.0: CHARACTERISTICS OF GLYPHOSATE........................................................... 9 2.1 Use Details ........................................................................................................................ 10 2.2 Taxa of Concern ................................................................................................................ 10 SECTION 3.0: SCOPE OF THE ANALYSIS............................................................................... 10 3.1 Endangered Plant Species ................................................................................................. 10 3.2 Initial Spatial Extent of the Analysis as Defined by Crop Growth Pattern and Endangered Plant Species Presence.................................................................................. 11 3.3 Spatial Extent of the Analysis Revised According to Species Occurrences ..................... 12 SECTION 4.0: ANALYSIS OF SPECIES CO-OCCURRENCES ............................................... 12 4.1 Introduction to Findings for Alfalfa .................................................................................. 13 4.2 Species Co-Occurrences Not of Concern .......................................................................... 13 4.3 Species Co-Occurrences for which Habitat Exclusions are Applicable............................ 14 4.4 Species Co-Occurrences for which Proximity Exclusions are Applicable........................ 14 4.5 Species Co-Occurrences for which Product-Property Exclusions are Applicable ............ 15 4.6 Species Co-Occurrences for which Other Exclusions are Applicable............................... 15 4.7 Species Co-Occurrences for which Species Management Practice Protections are Applicable......................................................................................................................... 15 4.8 Species Co-Occurrences for which Product Management Practice Protections are Applicable......................................................................................................................... 18 4.9 Species Co-Occurrences for which Further Analysis is Required..................................... 18 SECTION 5.0: DESIGNATED CRITICAL HABITAT ............................................................... 19 SECTION 6.0: CONCLUSIONS................................................................................................... 19 SECTION 7.0: REFERENCES ..................................................................................................... 21 SECTION 8.0: FIGURES.............................................................................................................. 31 LIST OF APPENDICES................................................................................................................ 34 List of Tables Table 1. Glyphosate herbicide use rates in alfalfa .........................................................................10 Table 2. Number of co-occurrences and species by taxa for alfalfa hay and seed production ......13 Table 3. Summary of species determinations for alfalfa hay and seed production........................19 List of Figures Figure 1. U.S. counties with alfalfa production based on 2002 Census of Agriculture.................31 Figure 2. U.S. counties with alfalfa production and listed plant species .......................................32 Figure 3. U.S. counties with alfalfa production and listed plant species for which further analysis is required..............................................................................................................................33 Threatened & Endangered Plant Species Analysis CSI 06711 Glyphosate/Alfalfa Monsanto Study ID CS-2005-125 Page 7 of 258 ABSTRACT This report assesses the proximity of federally-listed threatened and endangered plant species (“listed” species) to areas in the United States where alfalfa hay and alfalfa seed are produced. In particular, it assesses the potential adverse effects on threatened and endangered plant species from the use of glyphosate agricultural herbicides in conventional and Roundup Ready® alfalfa production. It is based, in part, on the use of the FIFRA Endangered Species Task Force Information Management System 2.0 (IMS) and follows, to the extent practicable, the guidance provided in the Joint Counterpart Regulations and EPA’s Overview Document on ecological risk assessment. The IMS was used to identify the co-occurrence of threatened and endangered plants, including conifers and cycads, dicots, ferns and allies, lichens, and monocots, with the counties identified as having alfalfa production (hay and seed) in 2002. A total of 1,787 species/crop co-occurrences were identified for alfalfa hay-producing counties (262 for alfalfa seed-producing counties). These represent 549 different plant species in 832 counties. The alfalfa hay co-occurrences include all of the alfalfa seed co-occurrences. Each of these co-occurrences was investigated with respect to the current Federal listing status for the species, actual crop and species county-level locations, species biology, and species habitat requirements, in order to determine whether potential exposure to glyphosate is of concern. The conclusion for each co-occurrence is expressed in the form of a simple general statement (a determination statement) supported by comments and reference sources. The analysis of 1,787 co-occurrences for alfalfa hay production revealed the following: 295 (for 44 species) can be excluded from concern due to the fact that the species have been delisted or the species is extirpated (not known to still occur) at the county level. Of the remaining co- occurrences, 622 (for 235 species) can be eliminated from concern based on the habitat characteristics of the species in question. In addition, 236 co-occurrences (for 134 species) can be excluded on the basis of an examination of the interactions within the county, which show a lack of proximity of alfalfa culture or pesticide use to the species locations (at the section (square