New EPA tool helps growers comply with pesticide runoff and drift mitigation requirements related to the Endangered Species Act
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EmailGrowers and pesticide applicators working to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Endangered Species Act requirements now have a new tool at their disposal.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announced the release of the Pesticide App for Label Mitigations (PALM), a mobile-friendly tool designed to help farmers and pesticide applicators make decisions about pesticide mitigation measures more easily and effectively. The EPA website states that, “These calculators are tools for informational purposes to assist pesticide users in determining whether the necessary level of mitigation has been met before applying a pesticide product. Pesticide users remain responsible for ensuring that all pesticide labeling requirements are met. Not all labels permit use of runoff/erosion mitigation measures or spray drift reduction.”
The PALM tool simplifies access to the EPA’s menu of approved pesticide spray drift reduction and runoff mitigation options, which were previously only available as interactive Excel spreadsheets. This free tool offers users easy access to approved mitigation recommendations from EPA’s Insecticide and Herbicide Strategies and an integrated platform to help growers calculate spray drift reductions and runoff mitigation points in support of Endangered Species Act compliance.
Accessible via mobile devices and web browsers, PALM allows users to input field-specific data and receive tailored mitigation options based on crop type, geography and application method. PALM streamlines Endangered Species Act compliance into three steps:
- Read the pesticide product label to identify any Endangered Species Act-related compliance language.
- Access the EPA’s Bulletins Live! Two system as directed to determine if mitigation measures are required in your geographical area.
- Consult the PALM tool to understand which runoff and spray drift mitigation options are available based on your crop type, geography and application method.
For more information on using PALM in the field, applicators can attend an informational webinar hosted by the EPA on Sept. 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. Pre-registration is required.
Additional resources
- Michigan State University Extension Bulletins Live! Two website
- US EPA’s Endangered Species Act Overview
- Bulletins Live! Two Tutorial
- Michigan Natural Features Inventory
The EPA encourages feedback from users to improve future versions of PALM. Suggestions and issues can be submitted directly to PALM@epa.gov. If you have questions about how to use Bulletins Live! Two, contact the Endangered Species Pesticide Protection help desk at ESPP@epa.gov or 1-844-447-3813.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no. 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
