US EPA IG questions Agency oversight of state pollinator protection plans

摘要

The US EPA lacks a strategy for assessing the success of state plans intended to protect bees and other pollinators from pesticides, according to a new report from the Agency's Office of Inspector General (IG). The US EPA lacks a strategy for assessing the success of state plans intended to protect bees and other pollinators from pesticides, according to a new report from the Agency's Office of Inspector General (IG). The report hones in on voluntary state managed pollinator protection plans (MP3s) crafted in response to a 2014 executive order by President Barack Obama that called on the federal government to take action to help bees and other pollinators. As part of its response, the EPA worked with state officials to develop guidance for MP3s -- the state plans are voluntary efforts intended to bring local stakeholders together to co-ordinate and co-operate on efforts to protect bees, particularly commercial honey bees brought in for pollination services from legal pesticide uses.