Because of litigation, the US District Court has mandated interim no-spray buffer zones for certain pesticides around waterways to protect endangered or threatened Pacific salmon and steelhead in Oregon, Washington and California. The mandatory no-spray buffer zones for specific salmon or steelhead-bearing streams are 60 feet for ground applications, and 300 feet for aerial applications.
The interim buffer zones remain in effect for the following pesticides until Endangered Species Act consultations are completed and pesticide specific mitigations are agreed upon by EPA and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Currently, the 2014 court ordered reinstatement of interim buffers apply to the following pesticides:
- Carbaryl (Sevin)
- Chlorpyrifos (Lorsban)
- Diazinon
- Malathion
- Methomyl (Lannate)
There are 2004 (from an original court case) interim buffer zones, which are in effect until NMFS Biological Opinions are completed, for the following pesticides:
- 1,3-dichloropropene (Telone)
- Bromoxynil (Buctril)
- Prometryn (Caparol)
- Racemic metholachlor (older form of Dual)
Buffers for the nine pesticides listed above apply to those streams identified in EPA’s Salmon Mapper. To view the no-spray buffer zones, go to EPA’s interactive map:
Salmon Mapper.
After EPA and the NMFS agree upon mitigation measures for a specific pesticide, new label language will be posted to EPA’s Bulletins Live! Two.
Applicators of those products will be directed to the website for information regarding specific requirements for use. These requirements will be enforceable under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). At this time, there are no endangered species bulletins issued for pesticide products in Oregon.